Just did my 1st saltwater test

[starryfish23]

So I just did my first saltwater test.
Ammonia was 1.0
Nitrate 0
SW High Range PH 8.2
SW Nitrate 5.0
I have a 25 gallon tank with a canister filter about 25lb of live rock and it was started a week ago. My temp is 78 and my salinity is 30. I don't know what levels all mean like what bad and whats good. Also what to know how to fix the bad.

[potatocouch]

Originally Posted by starryfish23

Ammonia was 1.0

You want this to be zero.

Originally Posted by starryfish23

Nitrate 0

I assume you meant Nitrite? If so, you want this to be zero.

Originally Posted by starryfish23

SW Nitrate 5.0

You want this to be zero too (if possible at all), but usually it is hardly possible.

Originally Posted by starryfish23

My temp is 78

Good temperature @ 25 celcius.

Originally Posted by starryfish23

my salinity is 30.

Salinity a bit high; you would want 25.

Originally Posted by starryfish23

Also what to know how to fix the bad.

To fix the Nitrate, the most efficient way is Water Change.
To fix the Ammonia, you need to find the source of the Ammonia. If the tank is currently cycling, let it be. just be patient and wait, eventually the Ammonia will drop, the Nitrite will rise and later on the Nitrite will decline and the Nitrate will rise.

Hope that helps.

[Silvergryphon]

Originally Posted by potatocouch

Salinity a bit high; you would want 25.

Not necessarily, if he is using the salinity scale he is slightly low, but close enough it isn't an issue. If he is using the specific gravity scale, it is high.

Salinity you want around 35 (if you're doing corals).
Specific Gravity you want around 1.025 (if you're doing corals).

FOWLR can run lower if I remember correctly.

[Titans_Reef]

You can have specific gravity around 1.020 if its FOWLR. If you are still cycling which it does look like you are, just let the cycle finish before you do a water change. Once your ammonia starts to drop, you will notice nitrite starting to show. Once nitrites and ammonia are both at 0, your cycle is done. Nitrates will lower after you do a water change. For FOWLR, nitrates is not a big issue if you have nitrates around 15-20ppm. A lot of people go for 0 nitrates but i've been running my reef tank with nitrates around 10ppm for almost 2 years now and my corals do not seem bothered by it. I have a mixed reef in my 125g. FOWLR is more forgiving but you do not want any ammonia or nitrites after your tank has cycled and you start to add fish to it. Both are toxic to fish and corals and should be fixed as soon as possible

[starryfish23]

Thanks for all your help