Hey there, got some questions on some of my tank readings, I found a red juvenile Oscar that I am wanting to get, but I want to make sure everything is right before I spend the money and bring him/her home. I did the nitrite test, it came out 0, ammonia was 0, but the High PH test came out about 8.2-8.4. I have an older kit, and was wondering what else I need to do. I don't have a test for nitrates, so would it be beneficial to just go out and buy a complete new test kit? And if so, which would be the best one to get. I am holding off getting the new fish until I get all the right answers and get things right. This red is really unique, it has white patches along it's belly, just like spots on a dog. It's very active, healthy looking, everything, so I don't want to risk losing this one too over water issues. Please advise! Thanks!

this tank is cycled? what I would suggest you do is test your tap water for ph. It's always good to know exactly what is coming out of the tap before it goes into your tank. Remember that a lot of these readings will soon change. At the moment, your pH is about as high as you want it to go. What you could do is get a large piece of bog wood, this will help bring the pH down. Remember that if your tap water has a pH of 8, every time you do a water change, the tank pH is going to alter.

I really like aquarium pharmaceuticals when it comes to test kits. I have got the Master test Kit which comprises of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

Yes, this tank should be cycled, I lost my Oscar about 2 weeks ago now, I've done a 50% water change last weekend, and the only thing that is in the tank is a pleco and a pictus cat. I have a piece of driftwood/bogwood in there for the pleco, it's been in there for quite some time, probably 4-5 years. The only other thing that is in there decoration wise is a structure for the pictus to hide in and that's it.

The test kit that I have is by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, and it's a Master Test Kit. It tests for ph (6.0 to 7.6) High Range ph (7.4 to 8.8) Ammonia, Nitrite, general hardness and carbonate hardness. I used the High Range ph test, should I have just used the regular ph one instead? Again, I don't have a test bottle for nitrates, so that wasn't done. Maybe I used the wrong ph test bottle?


Just went and did the regular ph-WOW!!! It was 7.6 or higher. NOW how do I get this conundrum solved?

I always use the low pH test

Okay-I did the low ph and the reading was 7.6 or higher. ???????????????

check the ph coming straight from your tap. if its high then you might want to look at a ph reducer however i think that it would be better to have a ph a little on the high side and stable than a lower reading that fluctuates.