elp needed

[DougInPA]

My PH level and nitrate levels seem to go high in a short amount of time, hours, even after a water change. I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 filters, one of which is cycled, the other is cycling. I have 16 fish in it.
To many fish?
Not sure why PH and Nitrate level go so high in such a short amount of time.

Doug Geib

 

[coralbandit]

Take a sample of water and test it straight from tap.Then set it aside for 24 hours and test again..You might want to test it in hours to see if it changes as fast outside the tank?
Likely the nitrAtes are in your tap water..
The Ph changing should either be your water off gassing [off gassing CO2 in this case] and thus the ph changes after exposure to atmospheric air and finally settles at its 'natural value' or is possibly do to rocks or substrate in your tank...

 

[Toad]

What kind of fish do you have?

 

[Upstate TBarbs]

I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 filters, one of which is cycled, the other is cycling. I have 16 fish in it.
To many fish?

I guess that all depends on what the fish are, and the size / type of filters. You probably are not overstocked though. Try the link below.

AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor