help! cant get ph or nitrates right!

[mary]

well now after doing a partial water change ( 6 gal) and vacuuming the
gravel in my 20 gal. tank, the nitrates are still a bit high and the ph
is a bit low,i put in proper ph 7.0, but it still wont come up. what am
i doing wrong?

[rmc]

"mary" > wrote in message
...
> well now after doing a partial water change ( 6 gal) and vacuuming
the
> gravel in my 20 gal. tank, the nitrates are still a bit high and the
ph
> is a bit low,i put in proper ph 7.0, but it still wont come up. what
am
> i doing wrong?
>

--

Are you sure it's nitrates and not nitrites? It is somewhat common to
have elevated nitrite levels immediately after a water change.

What is your ph now?

Mark
http://www.cichliddomain.com

[mary]

Nitrites are 0, nitrates are 80, alkalinity is 120, Ph is 6.2, GH is
150.

[RedForeman ©®]

> Nitrites are 0, nitrates are 80, alkalinity is 120, Ph is 6.2, GH is
> 150.

If I am correct, don't quote me, but you may need to get some plants to help
absorb the nitrAtes...

[rmc]

About the best way to get rid of nitrates is with water changes unless
you have plants. Nitrates are not as toxic to fish as ammonia or
nitrites so you are not necessarily facing a panic situation.

Is the ph of your tapwater normally 6.2 or did you add something to
bring it down? What kind of fish are you keeping? Many species do
well in that ph.

Mark
http://www.cichliddomain.com