[47650]

i have a 4ft tank with 2 8 inch oscars in i done a water change can i add some api aquarium salt and will it hurt my oscars i got told it helps the electrolytes that fish need. filtration in my tank is a fluval 405 external and a fluval 4 internal my tank readings are ph 6.0 ammonia 0ppm nitrite 0ppm and my nitrate is at 20ppm at present time but can go up to 80ppm to 100ppm in one day any advice welcome

 

[remarkosmoc]

have you vacuumed the substrate and cleaned out the filter pads lately? the low ph can also indicate there is a lot of waste in the tank.

 

[47650]

its a new filtter the 405 as only been running about 2 weeks but i put the rings and old and new 2gether and yes i vac the gravel

 

[Hoggy Boss]

I don't think it's done cycling.( the 405) Slow down on the feeding and continue to do small water changes to help reduce nitrates. I wouldn't mess around with the salt, because high ph will cause the nitrates to become toxic at that level.

 

[remarkosmoc]

I don't think it's done cycling.( the 405) Slow down on the feeding and continue to do small water changes to help reduce nitrates. I wouldn't mess around with the salt, because high ph will cause the nitrates to become toxic at that level.

High ph? its 6? I would get the ph up. The bacteria that eat ammonia start being less effective at about 5.5. True that the higher the ph the more ammonia hurts the fish, but 6 is too low for oscars. Have you tested for hardness as well? The filter is new but the tank is old am i right? With low ph and high nitrates I would say that the kh buffer is all used up and you it could use a bump. Here is a good read: http://www.bestfish.com/oldtank.html If your KH is low you can raise it with baking soda.

agreed continue to do frequent water changes and reduce feedings. You might consider buying or building nitrate filter as well, which would eliminate the issue.