ph & nitrates

[richard manion]

i am new to this and just statred a system a week ago, i have 3 large blue gill in 50 galtank filled with the pond water they came from, then a swril filter into a small gravel bed, it cycles about every 5 mins, so fatr my ph started at 7.5 and after aweek it has not changed, the fish seem to be doing ok and the cabage plant in the bed seem to doing ok, was wondering how i know if i am getting any nitrates in the system, is there a test kit or something, and maybe some advice on how to bring the ph level down, any help would be great, hanks

[Dan Lindey]

I use an "API freshwater master test kit" It checks PH,ammonia,nitrites and nitrates. Google it, you will find lots of sorces.