Water Testing...

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fireman36701

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2013
103
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Alabama
OK being relatively new to Aquariums I was taking my water sample to the LFS to be tested and was always told my water was fine...I don't like fine so I purchased an API Master Test Kit.

I don't pretend to know everything I know my PH is in range for my Cichlids just not sure about the other stuff...

Tank is 55g and been running for 2 weeks and is set up for Cichlids

PH-8.0
Ammonia-0.50 ppm
Nitrite-2.0 ppm
Nitrate-5.0 ppm

Please let me know if this is good bad or ugly and any way to correct any problems


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Looks like your tank is still cycling, or you do not have sufficient bio filtration, or both.

Your ammonia should definetely be at zero in order to be safe for fish. NitrItes and nitrAtes should be as close to zero as possible.

Tell us about your filtration. Also, what chemicals or fish did you add to start the cycle?
 
I am going to have my Blood Parrot and 2 Jewels Cichlids in here all 3 inches and my Filtration is Emperor 400 and Aqueon 55/75...I have 60 lbs Cichlid Sand and been treating the water with chemtech stability and chemtech prime...I also currently have 3 feeder goldfish all 4 inches in aquarium...anything else I should do?

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All you can do now is wait, be patient, and read.

The prime may give you false ammonia readings <---link. So you want to stop adding chemicals at this point. For the next two weeks, at least, just leave it and let it cycle. Definately leave those feeders in there, they are your "mock" cichlids right now. Until your setup can maintain proper ammonia and nitrite levels with the feeders in there, it's not ready for your cichlids.

For your filter, While you do have a ~13X turnover, you may not have sufficient bio filtration in your current setup, although with just those 3 cichlids you might be good. In two weeks you will know whther or not you need to add bio.

While you're waiting, you really need to do some google searches for "the nitrogen cycle aquarium", "nitrite and ammonia poisoning aquarium", and "Nitrates in the Aquarium". Understanding the nitrogen cycle, and your test kit, is one of the most important aspects of fish keeping IMO. Understanding it BEFORE you add fish will save you alot of money and headache (it will also save your fish).
 
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