Levels

kurtkont · Jul 23, 2013

Question about my levels in my tank. My levels are ph 8.4-8.2 ammonia 0.25-0.50 nitrite 0-0.25 nitrate 0.
Should I be concerned. I did a 15% water change but no change in my levels what should I do. Or am I over thinking this

Dan1789 · Jul 23, 2013

Is your tank cycling? If so, don't do any water changes until ammonia and nitrite are 0.

kurtkont · Jul 23, 2013

No cycling has been done for a little while know.

Deinonych · Jul 23, 2013

If any ammonia or nitrite are present, you are still cycling. How old is this tank and what do you have in it?

kurtkont · Jul 23, 2013

6 weeks. I have live rock live sand. 2 damsels a spotted hawk fish and some hermit crabs

rworegon · Jul 23, 2013

Be patient and let the bacteria colony catch up to the bioload. Ammonia should really be zero if the tank has completed a cycle. Nitrite should be being converted to nitrate faster than you could detect on a test. Nitrite is more toxic to fish than even ammonia. Are your fish breathing hard? What test are you susing for ammonia.?

Deinonych · Jul 23, 2013

Your biofilter is not established. I would dose Prime or something similar to get your ammonia under control ASAP. Don't add any more fish until your biofilter is stable (i.e. no ammonia or nitrite present).

Feivel · Jul 23, 2013

Wait it out. Eventually the amonia will become nitrite then nitrate. If there is no fish in the tank i will take much longer for the bacterial cycle to start. Also every addition to your tank will have a mini cycle due to new bacteria added to the water. Your tank has to mature and be able to stay on top of this by itself.