General Care Discussion :: Water Quality

[Daniel3507]

I got bored today and decided to test my water. My PH was 7 and had 0 ammonia. I know all thats good but when it comes to nitrite and nitrate, i have no idea whats good or bad. My nitrite was 0 and my nitrate was around 20 or 40. My question is, is that good or bad?

[bradmeisel]

i dunno but that is a very cute albino hedgehog you have. I really like the new holiday pic

[Daniel3507]

i wish he was mine. he actually belongs to Zoologist from the forum. his name is Cloud. i fell in love with him whenever she got him and she made the avatar for me cause she's cool like that.

[zoologist]

Daniel is Cloud's god father and ironically they share the same birthday, too.

And Cloud isnt' albino. he's a black eyed cinnicot.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Ammonia and nitrite at 0 is good, that means your tank is cycled and the biological filter is established. Your nitrates are high though so I'd do a 50% water change. I aim to keep my nitrate levels below 10ppm and in my planted aquariums it is usually between 0-5ppm.

[bradmeisel]

oh, it's not a hedgehog? It is still pretty cute.

[Daniel3507]

i thought it was kinda high so after i tested it i went ahead and did a 50% water change and tested it again after awhile and it was the same. any other suggestions on how to lower it?


Its a hedgehog but not an albino hedgehog

[bradmeisel]

Yeah i guess an albino would have red eyes too.

[BullDog]

I agree, nitrate was a bit high. I believe the best way to lower nitrate is partial water changes. There is also products out there (I understand) that claim to keep nitrate down.

A 50% water change should have theoretically cut the ppm of nitrate in half. But if your nitrate was at say, 40, and the change brought it down to 20, then you probably wouldn't see a difference in your test. Test again in a few days, and maybe do another 25% change if needed.

[zoologist]

Cloud's coloration is 'black eyed cinnicot' his species is african pygmy hedgehog. sorry bout the confusions

[Daniel3507]

will high nitrate levels harm anything?

[BullDog]

I think over the long term, consistently high nitrates is detrimental to your turt's health.

[Daniel3507]

i'll test it again in a few days and see what it reads and if need be i'll keep changing the water.

[SpotsMama]

Nitrates are fertalizer for plants so when the number gets high, algae - which is after all a plant - tends to grow. I believe it will also stink. It isn't as harmful as ammonia or nitrite. When the level gets to be around 40 then it's time to do a partial water change.

[untsmurf]

What test kit are you using Daniel?