Testing Tank vs Well Water

[GouramiFanatic]

I tested my tank and the Nitrates looked really high. They've never tested this high before! Here are the readings: Ammonia: 0ppm (been steady), Nitrites: 0ppm (been steady), Nitrates: 40 - 80ppm (an all time high!), and Ph: 8.0 (been steady)

Out of curiousity I tested the tap water. I used to live in city and the test results were always a constant 0ppm on the Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates. The Ph bounced a bit, but was always around the 7.0 mark.Here are the results: Ammonia: .25ppm, Nitrites: .5ppm, Nitrates: 5ppm, and Ph: 8.4. Now I live more in the country and my water supply is a well. I honestly thought that the well would be much better than city water and never tested it except for when I moved in. Should I do anything about this (add any media to my filter, etc) or just test both the tank the well water more consistantly?

 

[Devilishturtles]

I would assume that .25 ppm of NH3 should be converted rather quickly in a cycled tank. I honestly wouldn't worry about it if it were me. However, 40-80 is high for your tank. Has it been a while since your last water change?

 

[GouramiFanatic]

It hadn't been *to* long since my last water change, but it was a bit longer than usual. I want to say it was about 2 weeks (I normally try one PWC every week). I have to get better at keeping track of these things. I think the high Nitrates may partially be my fault for over feeding. I recent got a new Ropefish and I was concerned that he wasn't eating so I kept putting a little bit more frozen food in until I saw he was eating something. Still, I don't think I was feeding that much. I'm just glad I caught it and can work on lowering it now!