Uh oh

[Laticauda]

Thanks! Just did what you suggested and they read 40ppm, too high?

Yes, that is on the high side. I'd recommend doing 50% water changes (since you have already done a larger one) every 12 hours if you can. I'd rather see them ~10 (5 would be better), and then check them every day to see how soon you should change the water again.

 

[aclockworkorange]

That's after the water change?! You want less than 30ppm ideally.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Wondering if your tap water has nitrates as well...

 

[Laticauda]

yeah, those nitrAtes were crazy high. Now we know why we must do water changes...must do water changes...must do water changes....sorry, fell asleep there, and was having nightmares.

LoL. Anyway, that's why your fish seemed so unhappy. Low nitrates are ok, but they become toxic at higher levels.

 

[Laticauda]

Wondering if your tap water has nitrates as well...

Good point. Have you tested your water straight from your tap yet?

 

[Broski]

Uh I think my Nitrate stuff is weird, retested for the third time: 20ppm

I'll do a 50% change tomorrow, US natives make monster poos.

 

[aclockworkorange]

If you are doing the ph test of your tap as Lati suggested after 24 hours (it's a good idea), be sure to test it for nitrates as well.

 

[Broski]

last test before I go to sleep shows nitrate at 10ish PPM

I guess my tap has high nitrates, and my bio colony is going Om nom nom on it.

 

[Laticauda]

I don't think it really goes that fast. Is it a planted tank?

If it's not, then you don't have anything to eat up nitrAtes. The only way to remove nitrAtes is through water changes (with freshwater) or with plants (which actually prefer to use ammonia, and not nitrAtes.)

 

[Broski]

did a 60% change, and also added some tetra easy balance just because I'm going to be away for a week. My tap has nitrates (5ppm) and my tank has 10 ppm of nitrates. The EasyBalance says it has "nitrate eating granules", probably rubbish but whatever.


I'll drop in 100 feeder convicts, since I know convicts are masters of hiding. I would imagine that within a week they will be mostly gone.