Having issues with parameters.

[SaltyBug]

So to begin, I am fish cycling using FritzZYME and 2 clownfish. All behavior is normal not seeing any issues and I know the tank is still cycling. I’m just worried about these results. I am using API tests so they’re not the greatest, but something is better than nothing. According to the tests, I have what looks like elevated levels of Ammonia Nitrites and Nitrates, so something is happening with the cycle, but I feel like these are way too high... again, fish are showing no signs of any issues or ammonia poisoning or anything, they’re eating very well and have been for about 2 weeks now. The tank is going on a month since setup.

 

[Old Fritz]

Here is my experience with api test kits. When I was at petco I used the api master test kits and you kinda learn the quirks of them.

Unless your water is absolutely pristine it will almost always read 0.25ppm for ammonia. I'm not as familiar with the nitrite test kit honestly so i wont comment on the accuracy of that. I would try dosing more beneficial bacteria or just keep doing water changes and see if anything improves.

With nitrate the tests are fairly accurate, but you have to remember nitrate is nowhere near as toxic as ammonia. I have seen tanks where the nitrate test goes blood red (which is like 140ppm lol) but most times if nitrates are in the 40's I would be doing a water change as that's when I think fish start getting into the danger zone, but that's just my two cents

 

[SaltyBug]

Here is my experience with api test kits. When I was at petco I used the api master test kits and you kinda learn the quirks of them.

Unless your water is absolutely pristine it will almost always read 0.25ppm for ammonia. I'm not as familiar with the nitrite test kit honestly so i wont comment on the accuracy of that. I would try dosing more beneficial bacteria or just keep doing water changes and see if anything improves.

With nitrate the tests are fairly accurate, but you have to remember nitrate is nowhere near as toxic as ammonia. I have seen tanks where the nitrate test goes blood red (which is like 140ppm lol) but most times if nitrates are in the 40's I would be doing a water change as that's when I think fish start getting into the danger zone, but that's just my two cents

Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard and read about API tests. With what the nitrate is reading I’m not worried about that, the ammonia looks more like it’s around .50 ppm to me and the nitrites are definitely higher than I’d like around what looks like 1.0 ppm. But I have one of the little suction cup ammonia tests that stays in the tank, and it’s barely reading anything so Im probably just freaking myself out... I just don’t want things to go catastrophically wrong here haha.

 

[Old Fritz]

Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard and read about API tests. With what the nitrate is reading I’m not worried about that, the ammonia looks more like it’s around .50 ppm to me and the nitrites are definitely higher than I’d like around what looks like 1.0 ppm. But I have one of the little suction cup ammonia tests that stays in the tank, and it’s barely reading anything so Im probably just freaking myself out... I just don’t want things to go catastrophically wrong here haha.

I would personally invest in a different test kit. Or if you only plan on keeping fish API test kits are accurate enough, but not enough if you have corals.

 

[SaltyBug]

I would personally invest in a different test kit. Or if you only plan on keeping fish API test kits are accurate enough, but not enough if you have corals.

Fish only for now. Going to work on hitting the year mark before adding corals.