Paramaters

[scrowley93]

Just did a 25% water change and my paramaters are now off. everything was fine and now my pH is 7.8, Ammonia is .25, Nitrites are about a 2 and notrates are around 15. just put some microbacter7 in. any other suggestions on what i should be doing?

 

[GHOSTLY]

Just did a 25% water change and my paramaters are now off. everything was fine and now my pH is 7.8, Ammonia is .25, Nitrites are about a 2 and notrates are around 15. just put some microbacter7 in. any other suggestions on what i should be doing?

Sounds like youre cycling still. Are you using api tezt kits

 

[Tahoe61]

Don't test nitrites or pH on a new system. The ammonia value is insignificant if the tank is cycled.
Tell us more about the tank, age of tank and test kits.

Welcome to R2R.

 

[scrowley93]

Just did a 25% water change and my paramaters are now off. everything was fine and now my pH is 7.8, Ammonia is .25, Nitrites are about a 2 and notrates are around 15. just put some microbacter7 in. any other suggestions on what i should be doing?

Sounds like youre cycling still. Are you using api tezt kits

yes using api test kits. everything has been fine for weeks now and once i did the water change, threw stuff off.

 

[scrowley93]

Don't test nitrites or pH on a new system. The ammonia value is insignificant if the tank is cycled.
Tell us more about the tank, age of tank and test kits.

Welcome to R2R.

using api test kits. tanks a month old. have some snails, 2 clown, firefish goby, watchman and pistol in tank now. first two weeks had added the microbacter 7 as instructed. 40gal breeder. have two wavemakers on opposite ends and corners of tank facing up at surface and using the emperor pro 450 filter. have a RODI filter system and test water to 0tds before collecting to create my own saltwater using reefsalt. also had added 16oz container with copepods as well roughly a week before the water change this past weekend.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

Did you test ammonia prior to water change? If so how long before? How often are you doing water changes and why?

I never do water changes when cycling a tank. I never understood why anyone would recommend that (i know its common for lfs’s to recommend). Imo i would solve ammonia problem with bacteria of your choice. Maybe do one bottle of starter nitrifying bacteria and one dose of a standard bacteria like microbacter7. Also adding in a piece of good quality live rock helps a bunch. Id just throw it i the sump and let it ride.

 

[sgdnycct]

The tank is still very new. For its size and age you’re probably pushing the bioload limit. It could be that even though the tank is cycled the load spiked and raised ammonia. I wouldn’t think it’s related to the water change but it’s possible when making changes that the balance was interrupted.

I’d stop water changes for now and don’t add any livestock for a while. Let the tank settle in and stabilize.

No reason to do water changes on a 1 month old tank unless you’re trying to address a problem.

 

[GHOSTLY]

yes using api test kits. everything has been fine for weeks now and once i did the water change, threw stuff off.

Api is notorious for being inaccurate. It could be a misreading

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You have fish in the tank, the tank is cycled, why are you testing ammonia and nitrite? I would suggest to put these 2 tests away until you cycle your next tank, there is no need to test ammonia and nitrite and you just confuse yourself. API is inaccurate, but at the same time, fish are always pooping and food always rotting somewhere, so ammonia is constantly entering the system, but it is negligible amounts.

But I do agree you are stocking your tank much too fast, I don't even add my first fish until about 4 weeks, then I wait another month to add more fish.

I also assume you are not QT'ing which means you are taking heavy risks of infecting your tank with disease.

I would suggest to slow down or you will have issue's. Good luck

 

[Skippy The Meh]

You have fish in the tank, the tank is cycled, why are you testing ammonia and nitrite? I would suggest to put these 2 tests away until you cycle your next tank, there is no need to test ammonia and nitrite and you just confuse yourself. API is inaccurate, but at the same time, fish are always pooping and food always rotting somewhere, so ammonia is constantly entering the system, but it is negligible amounts.

But I do agree you are stocking your tank much too fast, I don't even add my first fish until about 4 weeks, then I wait another month to add more fish.

I also assume you are not QT'ing which means you are taking heavy risks of infecting your tank with disease.

I would suggest to slow down or you will have issue's. Good luck

Respectfully, i disagree. A well cycled tank will never display a value for ammonia.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Just did a 25% water change and my paramaters are now off. everything was fine and now my pH is 7.8, Ammonia is .25, Nitrites are about a 2 and notrates are around 15. just put some microbacter7 in. any other suggestions on what i should be doing?

IMO, none of those values are any concern and ALL are fine. :)

FWIW, the nitrate is likely a false high reading from the nitrite, which causes false high nitrate readings in home kits. Even so, it is within my target range for nitrate.

As to cycling, if you had ammonia at 2 ppm or so and it declined, you are good to go to slowly start stocking.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I don't see any need at this point to keep dumping bottled bacteria into the tank. As others have said, put the test kits down, and enjoy the tank. Unless something goes drastically wrong, there is not going to be a dangerous level of ammonia. You never need to test for nitrite again, and for now you can ignore nitrate.