a1oxtb's 48l betta fishbox

[a1oxtb]

Thanks Plankton,  test kit has arrived so hopefully all is well    I'll be testing tonight and asking questions tomorrow.

[TropicalFishForums]

[a1oxtb]

so i have a little confession to make..........
 
i was a little impatient on saturday when at the lfs,... i went to pick up so some tap safe and ended up with 1 betta and 5 cory... i thought it would be ok as the filter was already cycled.
 
Anyway, my test kit arrived today and its thrown me into a world of confusion!
ph 7.6
ammonia 1.0ppm
nitrite 2.0ppm
nitrate 40ppm

 
high ph 7.4 or 8? i'm thinking 8 because of the 7.6+ on the low ph test?
 

 
anyway, following my impatience i have no clue what to do.
should i be getting double zeros?
 
also my ph seems very high - i also tested straight from the tap and got the same high and low ph results.
 
i now know i shouldnt have gone rushing back in and should have tested the water before stocking but its been done now.
 
should i do a water change?

[plankton]

I'd say that was nearer 8.0ph.
If you have fish you need to do daily changes (after an initial HUGE change to get rid of the ammonia and nitrite) until the cycle has finished.
You must learn patience young Skywalker......

[a1oxtb]

lol I know, I know, my patience level is 0!!!
 
ok so 75-80% today then 50% daily? until I get double 0's?
 
 

[plankton]

Correct!

[a1oxtb]

so i did a 80% water change last night and tested when i got back from work today.
0.5

 
not sure on this one 0.5 or 2.0?

 
and a pic of the tank from last night post water change

 
my red tiger lotus isnt doing too good, the leaves have blue patches on them, should i let them die off and hope for new growth?
 

[plankton]

No idea on the plants.
The ammonia looks better, but the nitrite is still lethal, another big change today, and probably for at least the rest of the week until they are both zero.