nitrAte question

[mugzy213]

I pretty new the keeping discus and fish for that matter but I dont understand everytime i test my water the nitrate alway reads o or yellow. some times alittle orange but always seems to be yellow? does this mean my tank is not cycled?

I have had the fish for about a month now.

I do a 30 % every day

2- 4" discus and 2 babies in a 55 gallon

i use day old r/o water and add minerals.

so what can i do get some nitrate's?

ph 6.6
nitrite 0
ammonia 0

temp 82

storage water 82

[Eddie]

Maybe not change water until you have some ammonia/nitrite reading. Changing water everyday in a tank that is not cycled will take a long time to cycle. Another thing you can do is get a hold of some bacteria in bottle, like SafeStart or something like that. Try throwing some of that in the tank, don't change the water, feed lightly and wait to get some readings.


Eddie

[mugzy213]

ok thanks, ill goto to the fish store(again)!

safestart wont hurt fish? how long should i wait to change my water? just until it get some nitrate's?


thanks!

[Eddie]

ok thanks, ill goto to the fish store(again)!

safestart wont hurt fish? how long should i wait to change my water? just until it get some nitrate's?


thanks!

Follow the instructions on the bottle, you may be required to do no water changes for a certain amount of time. The process should go alot faster since you've had the tank going a month already. Might even be less than a few days. No telling.

Good luck

Eddie

[mugzy213]

thanks for all your help! I dont know where I'd be with out this website!


Hal

[Roxanne]

....alittle orange but always seems to be yellow? does this mean my tank is not cycled?

..
so what can i do get some nitrate's?

ph 6.6
nitrite 0
ammonia 0

temp 82

storage water 82

Somethings not right here...you can't have 0 ammonia....unless, the tank is cycled.. are you taking your readings before or after water changes? .if you are using API test kit, you have got to shake the bottle REALLY well before use and shake the sample really well also to get an accurate reading...

Your ph is also very low so your bacteria can't multiply at the rate you would expect...

If it isn't cycled, your fish are going to experience the nitrite surge, so keep salt handy to help them through it...

[mugzy213]

Somethings not right here...you can't have 0 ammonia....unless, the tank is cycled.. are you taking your readings before or after water changes? .if you are using API test kit, you have got to shake the bottle REALLY well before use and shake the sample really well also to get an accurate reading...

Your ph is also very low so your bacteria can't multiply at the rate you would expect...

If it isn't cycled, your fish are going to experience the nitrite surge, so keep salt handy to help them through it...

Im taking the test after water changes. should i put some salt in there anyways?

[mugzy213]

what is the best ph to have?

I just tested ph for

tap = 7.2

storage barrels = 6.8

tank = 6.6 ish

should i do a big water change?

[Roxanne]

No...First, take your readings right before the next water change and post them here so we can tell where your cycle is at. Leave your ph where it is for now...

(Only add salt if there is a nitrite surge...)

[mugzy213]

ok ill test it tomorrow afternoon

thanks

[jeremy calkin]

hey just checking do u have sponge filter for bacteria to live in [u said u r new to fish]

[csarkar001]

No...First, take your readings right before the next water change and post them here so we can tell where your cycle is at. Leave your ph where it is for now...

(Only add salt if there is a nitrite surge...)

what is the advantage of adding salt when there is a nitrite surge?

[Eddie]

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/di...ritepoison.htm

Eddie

[mugzy213]

hey just checking do u have sponge filter for bacteria to live in [u said u r new to fish]

yeah i have 2 Sponge filters

[mugzy213]

ok just re tested my water

ammonia .25
nitrate 0 (kinda between yellow and orange)
nitrite 0
ph 6.6

so should a do a big water change or jsut the standard 30%