My levels??? Nitrate??

[HOLLIEO]

Okay, so I was testing my water yesterday. I kinda have a large fish load going right now, so I was a little concerned on the water quality. I only have the strips and I heard that they were not really very accurate, but I can not buy a test kit at this time. My levels atated by the strips are:
Nitrite 0 ppm, Nitrate 40 ppm, Ammonia .25 ppm, and a PH somewhere between 7.8-8.4 (couldn't really tell on the strip). Why is my Nitrate so high? Could it be something else in my tank effecting this?

[Zic]

Is the tank still cycling? When did you set it up?

[HOLLIEO]

Well, I thought it was done... but then I kinda took on a little to many fish.
I originally set up the tank (started cycling) June 6th.

[wabyrd]

Why is my Nitrate so high? Could it be something else in my tank effecting this?

Water Change! NitrAte doesn't really go away. It doesn't go away. You have do to a water change to get rid of it.

[HOLLIEO]

Now I am really confused.. because I just changed the water and these were the levels right after the change (well, a couple of hours later). So, why would my Nitrate be so high right from the start?

[Allivymar]

Could be 2 reasons: Your nitrate levels were HIGHER prior to the change, or you have nitrate levels in your tap water. If you just added a bunch more fish tho, higher levels are probably the reason; the tank will mini-cycle each time you add fish. More fish/larger messier fish = more waste = more ammonia = another cycle. Would explain why you are getting readings of both ammonia and nitrates; you have some nitrifying bacteria in the tank cause you did start a cycle; but not yet enough to handle the current bio-load. Small frequent water changes will help keep levels down. You might, out of curiosity, check your tap water anyway.

Oh, and the tests COULD be defective. You may also want to have your lfs test your water to double check if you feel a need.

[wabyrd]

Test your tap for NitrAtes. If there are none in the tap, then you had REALLY high nitrates before the change!

[HOLLIEO]

Good idea. I will check the tap when I get home. So, if my levels are high like this from the start... then should I use some other form of water. Bottled or distilled?? or something? Keep in mind.. I can not do the RO thing. My husband would rather replace my fish all the time rather than buy the unit to fix the problem. There is no reasoning with him.

[Allivymar]

I'd go with bottled if I had nitrate problems in the tap water (I'd also call my local water supply cause there shouldn't be any), as distilled water has absolutely no minerals in it. Chances are its the addition of the new fish that caused the spike tho.

Hubby isn't a fish fan huh. Mine claims not to be; he says they're "Your fish" if I suggest he get his own. Yet, he took it upon himself to name them. I don't name my fish other then descriptives (the lil guy, beastie boy, piglet) and even then I get them wrong (the lil guy is the now 8 inch long pleco LOL). However, they are known now as Priscilla, Grunt, Runt, etc etc thanx to hubby LOL

[HOLLIEO]

So, i have to remember to test my tap and if problems... call local water company. Okay.
and then use bottled water for changes.
Got it.

Well, my hubby LOVES fish... but he likes to cath them and eat them.
He is the total fisherman. :P
So, i told him that I better not cath him near the fishtank with a pole?!?!? ha, ha
I name mine the same way...
I have a Zebra Danio that is sooooooooooo full of eggs, and i call her fatty.