Question: Tank Readings

[rexx]

Hi,

I recently got another axolotl and if others have read my recent post (he was doing the handstand thing) .. So i did the siphing (sp?) and removed the gunk and water , also the pebbles.

So im trying to get the tank all normal for my little guy. The tank readings are currently through the roof! They have never been this bad before.

Does anyone know the correct readings for everything? As when i get my own test kit i want to do the testing more regularly to make sure everything is spot on... Here are my readings as of this morning/:

PH: 6
AMMONIA: .25
NITRATE: 5
NITRATE: 8 (im not sure the difference between these nitrates this is just how the readings were read out to me as i wrote them down.

So i have put some stress zyme in there and hoping that will help a little. Anything else i should do in the mean time ?

 

[carsona246]

Is the first nitrate reading actually a nitrite reading? if your nitrites are at 5 you need to do a waterchange. While stress zyme may or may not work, 5 ppm's of nitrite are not good. I'm pretty skeptical about anything that claims to have beneficial bacteria in a bottle, especially after testing out some bottles for myself. If the first nitrate reading is nitrites it looks like your torwards the end of your cycle, and shouldn't have much longer. Just keep doing waterchanges as needed(probably daily) and the stress zyme probably won't hurt, I'm pretty skeptical about it helping. Make sure to test your water daily, if your parameters arn't good, do water changes.

 

[rexx]

Is the first nitrate reading actually a nitrite reading? if your nitrites are at 5 you need to do a waterchange. While stress zyme may or may not work, 5 ppm's of nitrite are not good. I'm pretty skeptical about anything that claims to have beneficial bacteria in a bottle, especially after testing out some bottles for myself. If the first nitrate reading is nitrites it looks like your torwards the end of your cycle, and shouldn't have much longer. Just keep doing waterchanges as needed(probably daily) and the stress zyme probably won't hurt, I'm pretty skeptical about it helping. Make sure to test your water daily, if your parameters arn't good, do water changes.

Yes,thats as it was read out to me and she said my tank is still cycling.
She said nitrate 2 times , ?
I think i definately need to get my own test kit asap to test my self but i need to know the best readings at what the tank should be at if anyone knows them ?

 

[carsona246]

ah, I thought you had tested yourself. whoever tested your tank probably meant nitrites, which is not good in your tank. You've done a water change right? I can't exactly remember how deadly nitrites are, but I'm pretty sure 5 ppm's is not good.

Ideally your tank should have 0 ammonia/nitrite and less than 40 ppm's of nitrate, google the nitrogen cycle, its just nice to understand it

 

[axigeek]

Read up and then feel free to ask any questions :happy:

Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity

Also, I will repeat some advice that was given to me. Hope it all helps.

What you're looking for are the 3 Phases of cycling to run their course.

Phase 1 ~ The Ammonia eaters move in and multiply
What your tests will show;
Ammonia ~ Rises steadily to a peak before starting to drop back down.
Nitrite ~ will be 0 or at least remain steady and will begin to rise as the ammonia levels drop
Nitrate ~ will be 0 or at least remain steady with no real increase or decrease except after water changes.
You may find you tank goes a little cloudy for a couple of days during this phase, don't worry about it, it's completely normal and will clear on it's own

Phase 2 ~ The Nitrite eaters move in and multiply
What your tests will show;
Ammonia ~ Will continue to drop and will then remain at zero
Nitrite ~ Will continue to rise to a peak before starting to drop back down to zero
Nitrate ~ will be 0 or at least remain steady until the Nitrite begins to drop at which point it will begin to rise.

Phase 3 ~ A fully cycled tank
What your tests will show;
Ammonia ~ 0
Nitrite ~ 0
Nitrate ~ rising slowly

NOTE: if at any time while cycling you get ANY of the following readings do a 20% water change to bring the numbers down!
Ammonia ~ 0.8 or higher
Nitrite ~ 0.5 or higher
Nitrate ~ 40 or higher

(Thanx to MereB for the advice above)

Also, a PH level of 7.4 to 7.6 is good but try and keep that stable or your axi will stress :happy:

 

[rexx]

Also, a PH level of 7.4 to 7.6 is good but try and keep that stable or your axi will stress :happy:

My PH was always at that leven in between there before this point! i did a water change on friday, and then aftetr i got the water tested today, i did another little water change and put stress zyme in. Is it bad to do little water changes every day?

 

[carsona246]

no, just make sure the water temps are the same. While waterchanges do cause stress, your axies will be more stressed from any ammonia/nitrite then a waterchange will cause. 50% waterchanges every day will not hurt at all. In fact it's much better to do a waterchange instead of leave your tank with ammonia/nitrite

 

[rexx]

Thanks Carson!!