Relocated 29 gallon fish tank

[Mikey214]

Hello all !

I haven’t posted on here in awhile. I finally relocated my fish tank (29 gallons) from my in-laws to my house. It was actually an easy move and went a lot smoother than I envisioned. The tank is all set up at my house now and all the fish survived.

This is my set up and my stock.
29 gallon tank with a 50 gallon HOB aquaclear filter. I also have a sponge filter in the tank which is what I used to help cycle my tank back in 2012.
1 bristlenose Pleco
1 black skirt tetra
1 candycane tetra
2 red nose tetra
1 javafern (new after the move)

After I moved the tank and as I was setting it up I did a 60% water change and did not clean the filter media just the gravel. Two days after the move I tested the water and the results were ...
Ph = 6.8ish
ammonia = 0
nitrites = 0
nitrates = 80

Yesterday (one week later) I did about a 60% water change and then tested the nitrates this morning which were about 60.

Are my nitrate levels something to be concerned about or what steps should I be taking to lower them, more water changes?

I want to get the tank back to 100% because I was not taking care of it as much as I should have been when it was at my in laws.

When I get the tank back to 100% I would like to stock more fish.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[King Fisher]

That water change should have dropped nitrates to at least 40. Maybe shake the hell out of those nitrate bottles more. Do another 50% water change. You might test your tap waters nitrates if that's what you use.

You don't want your nitrates above 40

 

[Mikey214]

That water change should have dropped nitrates to at least 40. Maybe shake the hell out of those nitrate bottles more. Do another 50% water change. You might test your tap waters nitrates if that's what you use.

You don't want your nitrates above 40

How long does the API test kit last for ? I couldn’t find an expiration date on any of the bottles or packaging.

 

[King Fisher]

Mine have expirations stamped on the bottles. I know the nitrates bottles you have to seriously shake hard for 1 minute. I actually hit mine against my hand or on a table.