Test Results

Question
Hi, remember me? I am the dummy who wrote you a couple of days ago who bought fish and did not cycle the tank? I went and got a small piece of live rock today as you suggested and the Texas holey rock came in but have not put that in yet. I also had put in the liquid bacteria yesterday if you remember. I did some tests and the results are scary:
Ammonia - exactly between 0.5 and 1.0 (do I smell dead fish?)
Nitrite - 0.05 (?)
Nitrate - 0 (yeah!!)
PH - 8.4 (good or bad?)
Alk - 3.6 (Yikes!)
I am being flippant here because I am really scared I have signed a death  sentence on these poor fish. I found something old in a bottle (my husband had 2 tanks before) that is supposed to lower the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. I doubt it will work since it sounds too good to be true, but he is not here to help with a partial water change today so I tried this stuff.
What test levels am I looking for? I will look up in a book what all the tests mean as not to bother you with that, but for now, to save my fish, what ranges in all this am I shooting for? I know Ammonia is zero, but that is about it. Also, What do I do about the high alkalinity? Will a water change take care of that? The alk was off the charts. Since my ammonia is high and my nitrates and nitrites are low, does that mean I am close to the end of cycling? I PROMISE I will not bother you and ask you to hold my hand through this, just please help this one last time.
Thank you!


Answer
Hey Diana

you want 0 nitrites, low nitrate (which you have!), and 8.2 PH (8.4 isnt too bad though). do water changes daily to keep the ammonia down. youre getting a nitrite reading, which means youre a good way into the cycle.

the ideal alkalinity is 3-4, so youre good there too. do some water changes daily to keep the ammonia down, and your tank should be cycled soon

if you have more questions, feel free to ask!