Any Input?

[fatboy8]

Earlier today I did a 25% water change along with vacuuming my gravel in my 55 gal. Everything went smooth I let it sit for awhile and then I tested the water since I got those 5 in 1 test strips. Placed it in there and where I am from the water is really hard so I have high GH and KH but my NO2 was at 10ppm and my NO3 was at 200 ppm. The current stock in that tank is a lmb channel cat a common shiner and then two pumpkinseeds and two green sunfish. The largest fish in there is 4.5" so it’s not over crowded. While sifting through the gravel I picked up some pieces of food and crap but I can guarantee I got 98-99% of it. The tank is also planted. So I went and tested my 20 gal which has two 3" cats in it that are growing out. Now this tank was a little messier from feeding them frozen bloodworms and live minnows but my nitrites and nitrates were 0 ppm. I don’t get it I feel like the strips are wrong since my fish look fine. Can anyone give me a hand here?

 

[F1 VET]

Well u never put the strips in the aquarium.


U don't want any n02 or ammonia, a cycled tank means only nitrate is the only bi product given off, so ur 20 isn't cycled imo and ur 55 is almost cycled but very dirty, and yes not to be rude but its overstocked I know it doesn't seem like it but ppl around here would have 1/3 of ur stock in it, ur filters prlly have decaying matter as well, wc should be done Atleast once a week. Add some ceramic bio change water 35% every 3 days on both tanks, in a few weeks Ull be good, fish don't show signs of sickness till their pretty much dead and I fear their close so keep an eye on it and feed less.



Go S. Vettel #1 rb8