Please come and explain using small words...

[LadyNymeriaGhost]

Hi.
Am new to this. We got a 63l tank last weekend, and stocked with 6 male guppies on Wednesday.
I've just tested the water, and there's no ammonia or nitrite, but the nitrates are a little on the high side. Like, in the orange section of the chart, not the WATER CHANGE red bit.
So, do I wait and see, and allow the system to set itself up, or should I be doing a partial water change, to head off the problem?
Sorry if I'm asking a daft question.

[LadyNymeriaGhost]

Bumping. Anyone, please?

[fisharefriendsnotfood32]

I'm not a expert by any means as I'm just cycling my new tank. But it's the ammonia you need to keep a eye on as that's what can poison your fish. I believe the safe levels of nitrates are below 40PPM so if it's below that shouldn't be a issue.

I have attached screen shots off of the info I have been going off of, it is for goldfish but I'm sure it's the same for all fish.

[fisharefriendsnotfood32]

Info

[LadyNymeriaGhost]

Oooh. That's really helpful, thanks. I'll just keep an eye on it, then. The fishes seem happy, anyway.

[peppatax]

It doesn't hurt to get in the habit of a small partial water change regularly for oxygen levels. It's supposedly (can't see how they tested it!) like opening a window in a smoky room!

[LadyNymeriaGhost]

Ok, thanks. I'll do a small one tonight.

[TreeSparrow]

If you have no ammonia or nitrites but there are nitrates, this suggests that you're tank is cycled. That's impossible in only a week, unless you started with a seeded filter already?

Either way, in such a small tank it's good to get into the habit of doing lots of small water changes to keep the water quality stable. I used to have a similar sized tank and I'd change 4 litres daily. It's much better for the fish.

Do be sure to dechlorinate the water you put back in.

[TreeSparrow]

Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?