Hi all. I need some expert advice as i am getting conflicting information. I've started a new pond about six weeks ag. I've been monitoring the water parameters closely but i do not know if my test results are good or bad.

i am using the salifert tests for amonia, nitrite and nitrate. I've also added salt to the pond and have been feeding lightly.

i have 13 small koi about 5cm and two larger koi about 30 cm in a 15,000 liter pond. For filtration i am running a large vortex, large bubble bead, protein skimmer large high pressure bio filter and 60w uv.

the water is crystal clear and the koi are always hungry. But i am feeding very small amounts twice a day.

my test results:

Amonia is 0 ppm
Nitrite between 0.1 and 0.2ppm
Nitrate 5ppm
Salt 2.14 kg/1000l
PH around 8

These are all with the salifert test kits.

I also checked nitrite with the sera test kit and the reading is between 0.5 and 1.0 altought this test i've been told is not very aqurate.

i have been doing a 10% water change weekly on wednesdays and a 25% water change weekly on saterdays.

the nitrite level stays constant at around 0.15.

Are these readings good or bad, and when will i know of my filter has completed the startup cycle?

any advice please. I would like to know what parameters are safe as i would like to get to a weekly 10% water change and be safe.

thanks guys.

Willie

U dont have much nitrate...and that to me means that U are the second stage of cycling...where bacteria for removing the nitrite is developing, but they are not fully functional.
Nitrite is not good for your Koi, they can tolerate more nitrate but not nitrite.

Thanks Neli.

i am confused with the different readings between sera and salifert tests though.
i tested my tap water vir salifert and the nitrite reading is also 0.1 therefore i thinks that larger than 10% water changes are not helping as i am putting nitrite into the pond with water changes.

could you possibly recommend a test kit that is trust worthy? The difference between the two worries me and i do not know which one is correct.

willie

Willie,
The only one I have used is the Tetra Kit...I also dont know how accurate is since I did not test it against another one.
Maybe the boys can chip in

Thanks Neli.

Hi Guys - which test kits do you recommend?

Thanks!