ok friday just passed (today is tuesday) my ammonia was .05, nitrates 10, nitrites .4 ph 6.5. than sun amm. was .05 nitrates o, nitrites 0, ph 6.8. monday (yesterday) amm. 05(kind of in between) /.06 nitraites 0 nitrites o ph. 7.2. so, on friday i seen the nitrates and nitrites was doing something, now they are at 0.
low ph high amonia
- Thread starter x38wrestlersmom
- Start date
High ammonia and low ph
ok did water testing today.. ( no reply to my last post
ammonia 1.0, nitrates 10, nitrites .5 ph 6.8
ok so, ammonia is still a bit high, right? ( but in safe mode)?
it just seems like these water changes isn't dropping the ammonia. is the ammonia in bad zone from sundays test of .5???
hope to hear from u
thank u so very much..
ok did water testing today.. ( no reply to my last post
ammonia 1.0, nitrates 10, nitrites .5 ph 6.8
ok so, ammonia is still a bit high, right? ( but in safe mode)?
it just seems like these water changes isn't dropping the ammonia. is the ammonia in bad zone from sundays test of .5???
hope to hear from u
thank u so very much..
Its hard to make sense of your readings. You are giving us readings for ammonia nitrite and nitrate, but the nitrate readings are strange. Some days they are 10ppm others 0. Unless you are doing 100% water changes in between these readings this just doesn't make sense.
If you had 10ppm nitrate in your tank and then did a 50% water change you would immediately have a nitrate reading of 5ppm. That 5ppm would increase gradually until your next water change.
It would be easier if you would try and be a little clearer in your postings. Specify your readings right before and after each water change Try to post you readings like this and it might be easier for us to help:
Tuesday 5/18: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Wednesday 5/19: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Wednesday 5/19: 25% Water change
Wednesday 5/19: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Thursday 5/20: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Friday 5/21: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Friday 5/21: 25% Water change
Friday 5/21: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Etc....
^^^
This is just hard to understand.
If you had 10ppm nitrate in your tank and then did a 50% water change you would immediately have a nitrate reading of 5ppm. That 5ppm would increase gradually until your next water change.
It would be easier if you would try and be a little clearer in your postings. Specify your readings right before and after each water change Try to post you readings like this and it might be easier for us to help:
Tuesday 5/18: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Wednesday 5/19: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Wednesday 5/19: 25% Water change
Wednesday 5/19: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Thursday 5/20: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Friday 5/21: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Friday 5/21: 25% Water change
Friday 5/21: Ammonia = xppm, Nitrite = xppm, Nitrate = xppm,
Etc....
^^^
This is just hard to understand.
Until the bacteria can grow (can take weeks or months) enough to handle the bio-load of your tank, the ammonia will still show when using Prime. It's only that Prime can make it a non-toxic form and safer for your fish. It doesn't REMOVE ammonia, so the test will still say ammonia is there.
Last edited:
Very little bacteria will be in the water you are removing. They live on the hard surfaces of the tank (gravel, deco, etc) and in your filter's media.
As far as the 'bacteria-in-a-bottle,' I've never used them so don't have any first-hand experience if they work or not. Some say they don't, and others swear by them.
As far as the 'bacteria-in-a-bottle,' I've never used them so don't have any first-hand experience if they work or not. Some say they don't, and others swear by them.
Using Prime, the ammonia test will still show ammonia, IF THERE IS AMMONIA. Using Prime will not give you a 'false' reading of ammonia.
If your beneficial bacteria are able to consume the ammonia, turn it into nitrite, then to nitrate, then there will be no ammonia reading on the test.
Using something to remove ammonia will just delay the cycle further.
If your beneficial bacteria are able to consume the ammonia, turn it into nitrite, then to nitrate, then there will be no ammonia reading on the test.
Using something to remove ammonia will just delay the cycle further.
Your friend is misinformed. I have fish in my tanks and show zero ammonia.
Once the biological filter is built up, that is - once the beneficial bacteria have time to grow on the hard surfaces (decorations, gravel, filter pad/floss/sponge), your ammonia will be zero. This is because the bacteria eat ammonia and convert it to nitrite, then to nitrate. You remove nitrates through water changes.
Just be patient and eventually your tank will process all the ammonia that is produced by your fish.
Once the biological filter is built up, that is - once the beneficial bacteria have time to grow on the hard surfaces (decorations, gravel, filter pad/floss/sponge), your ammonia will be zero. This is because the bacteria eat ammonia and convert it to nitrite, then to nitrate. You remove nitrates through water changes.
Just be patient and eventually your tank will process all the ammonia that is produced by your fish.
The only way to lower the nitrites is to a) do water changes to dilute it or b) allow it to remain high and the bacteria that turns it to nitrate should eventually catch up.
What fish do you have in the aquarium now (if any)?
What test kit are you using? My test kit only goes up to 5, and I'd find it hard to believe that fish are surviving with a constant reading for nitrite between 5 and 10.
What fish do you have in the aquarium now (if any)?
What test kit are you using? My test kit only goes up to 5, and I'd find it hard to believe that fish are surviving with a constant reading for nitrite between 5 and 10.
Ammonia and nitrite are both deadly to fish, nitrite more so. It prevents them from getting enough oxygen.
Your test strips say your nitrite is between 5 and 10?
What brand of strips is this?
I don't think your fish would be alive if the reading is correct. Are you sure its nitrites that show between 5 and 10? Perhaps its nitrates?
A reading of 1 on nitrites will put most fish into noticable distress (not eating, staying at the top of the water, breathing rapidly). Not many could survive a reading of 5 at all.
Test strips are not known for accuracy. A liquid test kit will give you far better readings.
Your test strips say your nitrite is between 5 and 10?
What brand of strips is this?
I don't think your fish would be alive if the reading is correct. Are you sure its nitrites that show between 5 and 10? Perhaps its nitrates?
A reading of 1 on nitrites will put most fish into noticable distress (not eating, staying at the top of the water, breathing rapidly). Not many could survive a reading of 5 at all.
Test strips are not known for accuracy. A liquid test kit will give you far better readings.
here is where i stand... ammonia.25, nitrite 5.0, nitrate 20, ph 7
a friend of mine said if i keep doing 25% water changes, it will not do the cycle.? and that the nitrite will not change.
like i said i have been doing water changes ever other day of 25% and the nitrite gets higher, this is the higest it has been in a week.. no change. so do i waite it out, or do what?
thank you
a friend of mine said if i keep doing 25% water changes, it will not do the cycle.? and that the nitrite will not change.
like i said i have been doing water changes ever other day of 25% and the nitrite gets higher, this is the higest it has been in a week.. no change. so do i waite it out, or do what?
thank you
Your friend is mistaken. I have 8 tanks and did my testing last night. No tank has less than 10 fish, some over 30, and all had zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and between 10 and 20 nitrates (only 2 had 20, so time for a water change on those 2 tonight). My tanks currently range from 5 gallons to 29 gallons.
How often and what do you feed the fish?
Again, what brand of test strips are you using? They do go out of date and if not store properly, can easily give false readings.
Are the fish showing signs of distress (staying at the surface, not eating, etc.)?
How often and what do you feed the fish?
Again, what brand of test strips are you using? They do go out of date and if not store properly, can easily give false readings.
Are the fish showing signs of distress (staying at the surface, not eating, etc.)?
Last edited: