LFS said ready for fish?

[vetteguy53081]

Additional pictures.

I guess my question is if my tank is even cycling? Lol interesting how different the test results are from before. It’s almost as if I went through another cycle…

While I dont trust these kits hence the very low cost, Once in a while you get lucky. A typical cycle starts with adding a piece of shrimp or ammonia chloride and you will see ammonia rise and then when ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.
Being that you are using API kits , I would suggest taking a water sample to a trusted LFS and see what numbers they come up with and to compare with yours then you will know where your readings are at.
Adding 1.5ml per ten gallons daily for next 2 weeks will assure bacteria is sufficient and supported.

 

[jamesb07]

Just an update

Just another update.

Water is starting to look clearer. Not sure that means anything but figured I’d document it .

As far as testing today, same as yesterday.

Hmm. How long have your ammonia levels been there? I would imagine by now they should be gone. Are yoy still dosing ammonia?

 

[acroholicanonymous]

While I dont trust these kits hence the very low cost, Once in a while you get lucky. A typical cycle starts with adding a piece of shrimp or ammonia chloride and you will see ammonia rise and then when ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled.
Being that you are using API kits , I would suggest taking a water sample to a trusted LFS and see what numbers they come up with and to compare with yours then you will know where your readings are at.
Adding 1.5ml per ten gallons daily for next 2 weeks will assure bacteria is sufficient and supported.

I’ve taken it to two LFS stores.

The first said I was at the end of a cycle and should just do a water change and add fish. The second said I still had ammonia. I wouldn’t say either are really “trusted” as I’m not familiar with either of them that well. That’s why I went and bought another test kit to see as I didn’t even trust my own testing.

I’m thinking of buying more bacteria and adding more to the tank to see if that helps. I have the temperature already up to 81 and keeping salinity steady too. Followed the instructions to the letter, but still falling short somehow.

I know I could probably add a fish and keep dosing bacteria, but I would feel bad putting it through it.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Hmm. How long have your ammonia levels been there? I would imagine by now they should be gone. Are yoy still dosing ammonia?

Since Saturday using the new test kit.

With the salifert test kit it appears there is no ammonia.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve taken it to two LFS stores.

The first said I was at the end of a cycle and should just do a water change and add fish. The second said I still had ammonia. I wouldn’t say either are really “trusted” as I’m not familiar with either of them that well. That’s why I went and bought another test kit to see as I didn’t even trust my own testing.

I’m thinking of buying more bacteria and adding more to the tank to see if that helps. I have the temperature already up to 81 and keeping salinity steady too. Followed the instructions to the letter, but still falling short somehow.

I know I could probably add a fish and keep dosing bacteria, but I would feel bad putting it through it.

No reason for 81 degrees unless you have velvet disease as example. Temp range 77-79 degrees

 

[acroholicanonymous]

No reason for 81 degrees unless you have velvet disease as example. Temp range 77-79 degrees

Gotcha. I’ll slowly bring it down to 78 again then.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Figured I’d pull the salifert tests out again to see where they are showing.

Im not good with looking “down” into the vials as the colors are too feint for me. So I use the higher sensitivity setting for these ones. Ammonia still throws me off as I can’t tell if that’s zero or not. Definitely some nitrite and nitrates though.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Hi all!

Been many years since I’ve kept a reef tank and decided to jump back in recently.

My LFS asked me to send some pictures of what my tests look like and after they saw it they said it was ready for fish. Although I don’t think anything malicious is going on, it doesn’t seem right to me and need another set of eyes (as maybe mine are just getting too old to see the colors correct).

First image is Ammonia, second is Nitrite, and third/4th is Nitrate from both testing ways.

Thoughts? And thanks for everyone’s assistance!

Ya know.....You could cut those color squares out and work them into the table!

 

[jamesb07]

Figured I’d pull the salifert tests out again to see where they are showing.

Im not good with looking “down” into the vials as the colors are too feint for me. So I use the higher sensitivity setting for these ones. Ammonia still throws me off as I can’t tell if that’s zero or not. Definitely some nitrite and nitrates though.

I would say ammonia is 0, but I can’t tell you 100% becaus it’s a picture. Also, you’re seeing nitrates now which is a good sign, but, don’t worry about testing them until nitirites are gone because they will continue to rise until they are gone

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I would say ammonia is 0, but I can’t tell you 100% becaus it’s a picture. Also, you’re seeing nitrates now which is a good sign, but, don’t worry about testing them until nitirites are gone because they will continue to rise until they are gone

Thanks, frustrating how it can look white and 0 but when you do API it clearly shows ammonia.

 

[jamesb07]

Thanks, frustrating how it can look white and 0 but when you do API it clearly shows ammonia.

I’ve heard very mixed things about api, some swear by it some people say it’s junk. That’s the same with every topic in this group tho, many opinions on both sides.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I ended up ordering some more bacteria that delivers tomorrow.

Any recommendations on dosing and how much to do?

 

[jamesb07]

I ended up ordering some more bacteria that delivers tomorrow.

Any recommendations on dosing and how much to do?

What did you order? Is it live bacteria?

 

[acroholicanonymous]

What did you order? Is it live bacteria?

Yes, same bacteria I originally dumped in with ammonia. Brightwell Start XLM

 

[jamesb07]

Yes, same bacteria I originally dumped in with ammonia. Brightwell Start XLM

Dosing should be on the bottle. Per their website, “it may be overdosed at up to 5 times the rated dosage during aquarium emergencies. ”

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I got my bacteria in today.

I tested again prior to doing it to see if anything has changed, and it didn’t.

Added about 75 ml to see if that helps or not. (110 gallon tank)

 

[jamesb07]

I got my bacteria in today.

I tested again prior to doing it to see if anything has changed, and it didn’t.

Added about 75 ml to see if that helps or not. (110 gallon tank)

You’re showing zero ammonia at this point correct?

 

[acroholicanonymous]

You’re showing zero ammonia at this point correct?

On API I show there’s around .5 ammonia. On salifert it appears to be zero, but hard to tell.

Nitrites are present on both tests.

 

[jamesb07]

On API I show there’s around .5 ammonia. On salifert it appears to be zero, but hard to tell.

Nitrites are present on both tests.

I would trust the Salifert. I highly doubt you would still have ammonia at this point unless you are still adding an ammonia source

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I would trust the Salifert. I highly doubt you would still have ammonia at this point unless you are still adding an ammonia source

Should I still wait for the nitrites to go away?