Howdy!

Finally bought a AP Test Kit but not 100% on what I should be looking for...

PH 7.6
Am 1.0ppm
Nitrite 0.5ppm
Nitrate 160ppm

Any advice?

50 Gallon 4 footer, new sump tank with 2 Tiger Oscars 2 and 3 inches long
400gal/hour pump
Tank has been running for 3 months with guppies, kuhli loaches and bristlenose.
Water is a little murky, the drift wood is still leeching after 5 months.

i would say you got your kit just in time.
ammonia should be 0
nitrite 0
this means your tank is new and not cycled or you are doing something to damage the cycle? or your media isn't enough for the tank size?filter not enough?
you need to do small water changes to keep ammonia at the lowest reading on the on the test card. 0.5ppm ammonia/nitrite. once the tank is cycled readings should always read 0 for ammonia/nitrites unless you have a problem.

nitrates are 160ppm these should read 5-40ppm 40being the max. you need to change water to bring these down. 30% water change every few days should be ok. this will be the reason the water looks green and murky. nitrates above 40ppm turn water green very quickly

I can't tell what your using in the sump for media???

Also as your PH is 7.6 ammonia and nitrites are more toxic to fish. another reason to keep them low until the cycle is complete.

please take time to note the difference between nitRATES and nitRITES. a lot of people mix these up. )

Using shade cloth in the first stage/ trickle stage
Gravel out of another cycled tank
then coral rock/gravel as a media.

I'll do a few water changes and see what that brings.
The O's seem happy, and hungry lol!

I got my eye on a pleco at the LFS but want to have things right before I proceed any further

putting a plec into a already cowded tank will not improve things. do you have a larger tank? 2 oscars will need 120g alone. at the moment they are small but they will only be that size for a few more wks. they will grow very fast.

are you using the coral to raise the PH or other reason? as thats the effect you will get from having coral.

i aggree with Marcus.
No new fish until your filter is cycled.
On the other hand you got to find out why the tank seems not to be cycled completely.
Gravel is good for a substrate, but using lava rocks or other porous stone will give you a much larger surface to house the bacteria in.

Why is the tank filled only half way?
I think you should fill it to the brim to have maximum watervolume, and thus improve the readings of your tests.

Same goes for your sump.
I think it's best to fill that baby up with media as much as possible, to create a bigger bacteria colony. Scrubbies or lava stones wouldt be an excellent and cheap option.

The tank has been running for 3 months but you say new sump tank.
The tank and the sump have been running for 3 months together?

Tank was filled up halfway during a water change, It currently sits at 1 inch below the rim. this gives it 160L or 35UKGallons.

When money allows I will fill the return chamber with bio balls.
I will add more scrubbies to the first chamber when time allows.

Did a 30% water change this morning, and the clarity has improved greatly, but still not to where I want it. Will see what the coming days water changes bring.

The sump has been running for approx 1 week now using gravel out of a pre-existing guppy tank. but the shade cloth in the first chamber is new, as is the coral.
The coral was used as a media - not for PH alteration.

What is the ideal PH level for O's?

No new fish for this tank just yet. If anything I might put the Bristlenoses into the other 4footer(234L or 51UK Gallons) with the Guppies. meaning the driftwood would go as well - this may help in water clarity.

I plan on setting up an 8 footer within the next 6-12 months, but want to carefully plan it out - no rushing into it

I plan on setting up an 8 footer within the next 6-12 months, but want to carefully plan it out - no rushing into it[/quote]

somehow i think you are going to need that tank within the next few weeks mate, not months, as the minimum amount of water for one Oscar alone is 55 UKGal and Oscars grow very, very quickly.

NV D15 7 wrote:


imo the sump is not seeded enough by just the gravel from a guppy tank.
Consider and treat your tank like you are still cycling it at the moment.
You'll have to keep up with frequent 30% wc until ammonia and nitrites are at 0.

the ideal pH for O's is between 6-8, but a steady pH is more important than the actual level, as long as it's between 6-8.

IMO you do need to hurry up in upgrading,for oscars will grow very fast, and so will your bioload.
Within 6 months you'll allready be running into more trouble than you can ask for.

I'll do another water test mid week after a few water changes and update with the progress. You guys must get sick of us noobs rushing into undersized tanks for our O's....

As marcus said, idealy results or zero for ammonia and nitrite and less than 40 for nitrates. You new sump filter isnt cycled. Please the section on the home page on cycling. Do daily water changes of 50% until you nitrate is below 40 then daily changes of 30% until ammonia and nitrite are zero. Then weekly water changes of 50%. only feed what you fish will eat in 2 mins

You need a bigger tank ASAP or you wont be able to keep your water good and your fish will get ill and may die

Dont add any new fish until your tank is sorted and you have a much bigger tank

Water is clearing up, will test in a few days to see how the Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites are going...

Updated shots:

NV D15 7 wrote:


nice looking tail on the oscar in the back!
If your budget is low,keep checking secondhand sites like Craigslist for very nice big tanks at possible bargain prices.
I know a lot of members have found adequate oscars tanks for good prices at secondhand sites..
so did i, and me and my fish never regretted the upgrade.
I found someone who was moving and had to get rid of the tank beforehand.