Final;y got a real test kit
 

Alright so I finally ditched the strips and got a API master kit and a test for hardness. Here are my numbers let me know what yall think


PH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0
Nitrites- 0
Nitrates- 40
GH 1 dGH
KH 5 dKH

I have 3 cichlids in a 29 gallon tank. Also I am having a problem with algea, could that be cause my Nitrates are high?

Thanks for input

Hey, I have an API master kit as well!
Some could say that the nitrates a little high, although not bad, maybe a pwc would take them down a bit. The pH should be lower from what I've read, although I do not know what your fishies like.

im pretty sure cichlids like the higher ph (7.5-8.5) i could be wrong as i dont keep them myself....i just recall reading that somewhere......in any case your water is on the softer side of things (my gh is 21 and kh 11) with a kh as low as yours you will need to keep an eye on your ph as the lower the kh the more likely you are to have ph changes.

regarding the algea IMO you readings dont indicate cause for an algea bloom. what is your light schedule??


ps YAY on the REAL test kit!!!:welldone:

edit: well ijust read this artical and i guess IMO...i am wrong. im not sure how reliable this source is but here is the link http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/wa...a/nitrates.htm

I just got my master test kit today. It doesn't have the GH or KH though. I think they should call it the Apprentice kit. :)

Those nitrates sounds high to me and are likely the cause of the algae problem.

What lighting have you got and how long is it on for?

Just to make sure, you are planning to get a larger tank at some point yes? That catfish will need a 55 at least..

That catfish died due to ICH. Light is on for about 10 hours a day. I have been slowly trying to get my PH up. And have to test some of the outside faucets to see if I have harder water outside.

What are you doing to raise the pH? There are safe ways and there are bad ways that will stress and possibly kill your fish in the process. If it is steady in the tank at 8, there is no reason to be raising it further, given the issues this can cause.

If you have some sort of filter/softener on your faucet inside, it is a good idea to test some from the outside tap. The KH and GH has a significant bearing on pH adjustment that we can go into.

Byron.

Ya I have a outside softner, I think I have one outside faucet that isnt connected to it just have to figure out which one.

I dont know what I was thinking when I said i was going to raise it, for some reason i was thinking it had said 7 lol. Im going to leave it at 8