i have a 10gal tank which i chicked the nitrate nitrite hardness alkalinity and ph lvls and they were all high other than the nitrate lvl what shoudl i do tonight to enshure there survival untill about 5-8pm tomarro?
2007-08-23 17:06:05 · 7 answers · asked by b-rizlle 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
A high pH and high alkalinity isn't always a problem, in fact, I would thing odds are very good you have always had a high pH and alkalinity. High nitrates are also not a really problem until they get very high, over about 100 ppm. High nitrite can be a problem though. I would suggest you do a 50% water change to control the nitrite levels and absolutely don't worry at all about the pH unless it's over 8.7 or so. Also don't concern yourself with the alkalinity readings, unless you are trying to adjust the pH it's not important at all and again, you don't want to adjust your pH.
If you will change some water to lower your nitrites, your fish will be just fine.
If you feel you need further help or that I can answer any other questions for you about this, please feel free to email me.
MM
2007-08-23 17:34:15 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ok here's the deal. Most of those things are elements that shouldn't be there at this time, unless this tank has been running for like a few weeks already. The first reading you should see is ammonia if this tank is new. After a couple weeks, your ammonia will drop to 0, as the beneficial bacteria builds up, then nitrites spike. Ammonia comes first, not nitrites. Then a few more weeks go, while another set of bacteria builds up, and nitrites drop and you see nitrates rise. Once you are reading 0 in ammonia and nitrite, your tank is basically cycled out and you should only be reading nitrates in your water. If you are reading nitrite or ammonia after your cycle is done, then something is wrong.
Now, you are saying you have nitrates in your water? Run a test on your tap water source. It may be comming from there. Your PH and hardness are not things to worry about if you have fish in the water. If you have a population in there, you will do more damage to them adjusting your PH now then before fish were in. Do not stress the ph at this point. Fix the readings on your ammonia and nitrite first. I would say do a 30-40% change now tonight. Depends alot on what your actual readings are. However like I said, if your tank is less then a month old, you really should not be reading nitrates at this point so check your tap water source before doing a water change. Anything comes up, email me.
JV
2007-08-24 00:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by I am Legend 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you start a new tank most of your levels will be high especially your nitrite because the tank has to go through a cycle in the filtration which the biological filter has to build up bacteria to make the nitrite break down to nitrate unfortunately there is not much you can do unless you add some chemical to the tank!
2007-08-24 00:21:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Assuming the levels were OK before (i.e. the PH and hardness was in normal range when you filled it), I would do a 75% water change.
If they are high but not through the roof, the changing 50% should be fine.
Make sure you get the temperature close to the same as the tank and that you have conditioned the water.
Good luck.
2007-08-24 00:18:13 · answer #4 · answered by Ooogs 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Go to wal*mart and get some stuff like Correct ph by Jungle...If you don't want to run out you could try cranking up the heat (not to high like 80-82) for awhile that always seems to help mine. â¥
2007-08-24 00:14:05 · answer #5 · answered by Tracey Lee ♥ 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
let the tank run and get water conditioners/treatments ASAP
2007-08-24 00:13:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
do a water change that will always help
2007-08-24 10:53:12 · answer #7 · answered by KrAzY 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋