water chemistry levels

hi another quick question as i cant find a reliable answer anywhere can someone please tell me what chemistry levels i need for a standard community tank.

temp?
ph?
nitrate?
nitrite?
and any others i may need to be aware of?

I have bought a pretty good test kit which can be seen here http://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/aquarium-test-kits/ master-test-kits/tetratest-laborett-p-3038.htmlif i need to perform a test that is not included in this kit please state so i can get one. I want to make sure all my levels are corret all the time and make sure im doing everything i can to keep a happy community as the happiness of my fish is pretty important to me (really dont want them to be unhappy because of something i can prevent they must already be upset about being in a glass box lol).

thanks again

Hi lester76, for a tropical aquarium the water temp should be 24-26 degrees C, PH between 6 and 8 but this needs to be steady a changing PH can be bad for fish, nitrAte between 0-20ppm, nitrIte at 0ppm (toxic to fish) and ammonia 0ppm (toixc to fish).
do you know about the nitrogen cycle ?
i wrote a blog on here a couple of days ago which i think would be helpfull to you, the blog was called my first tropical aquarium. hope this helps.

regards.

Phil.

just a quick thought if you can get an API master test kit, in my opinion they are the best and contain all the tests you need. ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte and PH.

would this be the one you mentioned???

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit- Aquarium-Test- Kit_W0QQitemZ180434650061QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supp lies_Fish?hash=item2a02be43cd

if so i have just ordered it. Would you suggest sending the other one back?

thanks for the reply.

In my opinion, that is the best test you can get!

temp should vary based on your fish. tropical fish typicly 70-80 degrees farin. Gold fish and bettas can live in room temp. your nitrite and ammonia should always be at 0. it may go up a little or down a little but never past 1. oxygen levels are to your own descretion, how ever the more the merrier. chlorine should never be too high. you can get conditioners to get rid of chlorine, I've always found tap water to be perfectly safe but to each his own. ph levels should never rise above 7.

Yeah thats the exact one.

once again fast informative and reliable advice thanks alot guys its very appreciated. Am sure by the time time my tank is up and running you will be sick of me asking noob questions but sadly you have made a rod for your own backs now by being so nice lol, i think i will be using these forums for a long time to come.

by the way for the prople that answered my first post about my water being cloudy after adding the sand im happy to report that my water is now crystal clear and i have begun my cycling process today, am alowing a good 6-8 weeks for this to be correct as johnaurther suggested.

thanks againg folks.

Great sounds like your all set ! hope your cycle go's well.

Phil.