tested my waters for the first time, pls check results and maybe help??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
P

perdeep007

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 22, 2009
168
8
18
new jersey
hey guys well i got a 80 gallon with 2 2 inch green terrors, 4 3 inch parrots, 3 africans, and one 3 inch flowerhorn. i know not the best community, stupid mistake but will eventually just keep the flower with the parrots give the af and terrors away. well anyways i bought my first test kits and i did the nitrate test and it was at 0.50 mg/L. ive had the tank set up for about 2 months, i have two filters, an emp 400 and an older hand me down fluval 204 with old media still in it, im re doing the media with sponges and some other stuff. i also did a ph test and it was 7.4
is this bad, good or needs work and what can i do to get it better??
 
perdeep007,
Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?
Do some research on what that is, and how it affects the health of the fish.

Water parameters are the results of testing for the condition of the nitrogen cycle...

Unless you have a way to do 100% waterchanges daily, you'll need to know what your filters actually do and the condition of the beneficial bacteria in the biological part of your filtration...
 
Please,Please Please, take Zennzzo's advice.
Learning and understanding the Nitrogen cycle is as important as the test you take to get your drivers licence.
Research the water quality needs of your fish. If they have conflicting needs , they are not suitable tankmates.
Homework is never fun, but it will help you become a more responsible )V(onster Fish Keeper.
 
dawnmarie;3931116; said:
Please,Please Please, take Zennzzo's advice.
Learning and understanding the Nitrogen cycle is as important as the test you take to get your drivers licence.
Research the water quality needs of your fish. If they have conflicting needs , they are not suitable tankmates.
Homework is never fun, but it will help you become a more responsible )V(onster Fish Keeper.
Click to expand...

advice taken and will do.
 
Howdy,

perdeep007;3930304; said:
i did the nitrate test and it was at 0.50 mg/L. i also did a ph test and it was 7.4
Click to expand...

Are you sure you tested nitrAte? 0.5 mg/L seems like an unreal number: test kits are not that precise, and chances are your tap water has more than that.

As for the pH, it's fine do not worry. Fish are fairly adaptable in that range, unless you want to breed, but that's a whole different ball game.

HarleyK
 
HarleyK;3931490; said:
Howdy,



Are you sure you tested nitrAte? 0.5 mg/L seems like an unreal number: test kits are not that precise, and chances are your tap water has more than that.

As for the pH, it's fine do not worry. Fish are fairly adaptable in that range, unless you want to breed, but that's a whole different ball game.

HarleyK
Click to expand...
eXactly...
.50 mg/L = .50 PPM

Even if that was an accurate result, I have never seen a reading of NitrAte that low, from a fully cycled tank. Without some sort of NitrAte reducing efforts

20-40ppm or 20-40 mg/L is in the range of what I would expect to see from a cycled Aquarium, 2 months old, for NitrAtes..
providing the Ammonia was 0 as well as the NitrIte at 0...

I only use a simple de-Chlorinator, so I do not know personally, but don't some of those products that remove/detoxify/convert Ammomia and NitrIte
make test results read differently?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom