3 week cycle (today’s tests) how would you interpret this?

[Armani]

 

[Crabs McJones]

Looks like you're right in the middle of your cycle. What ammonia source are you using?

 

[Armani]

Looks like you're right in the middle of your cycle. What ammonia source are you using?

Dr Tim’s ammonia

 

[Crabs McJones]

Dr Tim’s ammonia

When your ammonia hits 0ppm, dose to bring it back up to 2ppm and let you cycle keep going and test 24 hours later, if in 24 hours your tank is able to process 2ppm ammonia and show 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, you're ready to go. Once completed do a series of water changes to bring your nitrates down

 

[Armani]

When your ammonia hits 0ppm, dose to bring it back up to 2ppm and let you cycle keep going and test 24 hours later, if in 24 hours your tank is able to process 2ppm ammonia and show 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, you're ready to go. Once completed do a series of water changes to bring your nitrates down

Ammonia is hard to read with api kit. What is something else I can get to read it more accurately? To me that shade is 0 (yellow) maybe 0.25. Should I dose now to keep it up to 2ppm.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ammonia is hard to read with api kit. What is something else I can get to read it more accurately? To me that shade is 0 (yellow) maybe 0.25. Should I dose now to keep it up to 2ppm.

The salifert kit is more accurate in my opinion and easier to read, and at only 14 dollars for 50 tests, not a bad price

 

[lapin]

You dont need to keep the level up to 2. Just let it go down to 0. If after 2 days it stays at .25 then you are prob at near 0 and can dose to bring it up to 2. and wait the 24 hours to see if it goes back down to your lowest measured level with that kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ignore the nitrate reading until there's no nitrite. With many kits, the nitrate will be off when nitrite is present.

 

[Armani]

Ignore the nitrate reading until there's no nitrite. With many kits, the nitrate will be off when nitrite is present.

So my nitrites are 0 shouldn’t my nitrates be very high? It seems as if they are 0 or maybe 5.0. What happened? I’ve been dosing

 

[MSB123]

So my nitrites are 0 shouldn’t my nitrates be very high? It seems as if they are 0 or maybe 5.0. What happened? I’ve been dosing

Again, the tests may be messed up to nitrites.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The chart below lists all of the parameters recommend testing for saltwater systems. It lists the recommended values for the tests and our recommended testing frequency. You can follow the links to find which test kit we recommend for each parameter in each tank.


At Least Every Other Week


Saltwater Fish Reef
Temperature 77-81 Temperature 77-81
Ammonia 0ppm Nitrate 5-10ppm Ammonia 0ppm KH/Alkalinity 8.0-10.0 dKH
Nitrite 0ppm pH 6.5-8.0 Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 5-10ppm
Nitrate <30ppm Nitrate <30ppm Phosphate <.5ppm
pH 6.5-8.0 GH 4.0-8.0 dGH Phosphate <1ppm Calcium 400-450ppm
KH/Alkalinity 8.0-10.0 dKH Magnesium 1300-1350ppm

pH 7.8-8.4 pH 7.8-8.4
Salinity 1.024-1.026 Specific Gravity Salinity 1.024-1.026 Specific Gravity

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My self , id stop adding ammoina and wait another week or so. Is going to cycle.

Likely has , but thats an api test

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So my nitrites are 0 shouldn’t my nitrates be very high? It seems as if they are 0 or maybe 5.0. What happened? I’ve been dosing

How much total ammonia has been added? Total ppm? If all of it became nitrate, and none got consumed any other way, the nitrate will be about 3.6x the total ammonia added.

 

[Armani]

How much total ammonia has been added? Total ppm? If all of it became nitrate, and none got consumed any other way, the nitrate will be about 3.6x the total ammonia added.

It was 2ppm but all is well now

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It was 2ppm but all is well now

I mean total ever added. 2 + 2 + 2 pm, etc., to calculate how high nitrate is "expected" to be.

 

[Armani]

I mean total ever added. 2 + 2 + 2 pm, etc., to calculate how high nitrate is "expected" to be.

I started with 4ppm let it drop and then I dosed 2ppm about 4 times so I’d say 12ppm in total

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I started with 4ppm let it drop and then I dosed 2ppm about 4 times so I’d say 12ppm in total

OK, so one would expect substantial nitrate if algae and other organisms were not taking it up.