Tank progress

[kintle]

After multiple many water changes for the last 2 weeks (2 were 50%), my nitrates still were testing at 20ppm. I've been fish less trying to get rid of brook so this made no sense to me. I decided to take a water sample to my lfs and let them test for me. It tested at 5 or lower. Decided it's time to replace my test kit and to celebrate my finally low levels with two sticks, my first attempt at keeping them so with any luck I can be successful first try and let them be established for when I add fish back to my tank. Pics to follow

 

[Big G]

After multiple many water changes for the last 2 weeks (2 were 50%), my nitrates still were testing at 20ppm. I've been fish less trying to get rid of brook so this made no sense to me. I decided to take a water sample to my lfs and let them test for me. It tested at 5 or lower. Decided it's time to replace my test kit and to celebrate my finally low levels with two sticks, my first attempt at keeping them so with any luck I can be successful first try and let them be established for when I add fish back to my tank. Pics to follow

Always a good idea to have a couple of different brands of test kits: Salifert and Red Sea are the most reliable IMO, API is awful.

 

[kintle]

Some photos as I tinker with the lenses to figure then out. I'm not a photo guy so any advice is welcome. Also anyone got any idea on the names for my new sticks?

 

[kintle]

Always a good idea to have a couple of different brands of test kits: Salifert and Red Sea are the most reliable IMO, API is awful.

Red sea is what I picked up. API is what I had