Help!

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Jawfish101
Okay, this is probably a really stupid question but here goes:
What is the difference between you high and low range nitrates/nitrites/phosphates?
I'm not sure what your really asking....Anything that's high in those nitrite, nitrate, and phosphates is not good at all. You want nitrite to be at zero. Nitrate to be less then 20ppm and zero being best. Phosphates you want it down to zero. :happyfish

 

[puffer32]

Take a sample of your water to your lfs and do no more water changes, all the ph, cal swings will harm your fish, your numbers went from one extreme to the other, and is stressing out your fish. If cal and alk are low, get some bionic to stablize them slowly, and a ph boaster to get your ph up to 8.3. I really don't trust your test kits, or the way you are doing them.

 

[jawfish101]

Mikeyjer: I know that you want them to be at zero, but my test kits have a test for high and low range nitrates, nitrites, and phosphate. The answers come back different, so I thought that I would ask...sorry if I confused you.
puffer32: I will bring a water sample to my lfs, thanks, good idea. I dont trust my test kits either. I follow the directions exactly, but I guess theres always a possibility that i'm messing something up.
Thank You!

 

[jawfish101]

I just did a water test a couple of minutes ago, here are the params:
Phosphate: 0.4
pH: 7.8
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0.2
Ammonia: 0
Calcium: 375
Alkalinity: 200
Thanks

 

[puffer32]

Ok, but did you take a sample to your lfs like you said you would? Your numbers all seem so low now, don't get that :notsure: they are now to low, except your trites, having any trites at all is weird

You need some buffers to get your ph, cal and alk up. Ask for bionic at your lfs when you go get your water tested.

 

[jawfish101]

Not yet, my lfs is a little ways away, I will try and get there tomorrow. I agree, confusing, but thats what my test kits said. So, what exactly is bionic anyway? Just wondering.
Thanks

 

[puffer32]

Bionic is a 2 part buffer, one bottle is to raise cal the other is for raising alk. You use them together, I dosed with both and my alk went up alot, so I stopped using it and now just add the cal buffer. cal is slowly going up but slower then the alk. Before usaing alk was 6, its now at 12, cal was 260, its up to 400, once it hits 450 I will only dose as needed.