Testing Water and Cycle help ???

[David J]

My tank has been cycling since 1/10/ I put in live sand and also some Dr Tims with ammonia.

Now I wanted 2nd opinion as I'm not sure how to read this. Please note I wash my tubes after every use, and right before testing I fill up with some salt water from the tank mix it up and then dump it to try and get a clean reading. My last test was 1/27 I added 4 drops of ammonia as I don't have food to ghost feed.

Ammonia I would say between 0 and .25
Nitrite 0 and .25
Nitrate 0 ? Last test it was around 20, I have not done a water change. In person it look less yellow and more orange so maybe 5

I do have a protein skimmer but don't think that should be doing much at this point just breaking in. Also when I started Ammonia was around 4.0 and Nitrites 5.0 at one point so I know they have gone down. Just not sure since it seems Nitrates are now low as well.

Let me know what you guys think. Also is there anything else I can do for example add more ammonia and then see if the levels go down ?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That is an odd one.
Api will give odd ammona readings sometimes. Usually.25.

The change in no3 is the really odd one.
Did you retest ? Like one after the other?

 

[David J]

Tested no3 again and pretty much same reading. Maybe its 5.0 hard to tell color is so similar

 

[David J]

Looking at my book I tested Ammonia 2nd day and it was 2.0, waited 5 days and retested. Nitrites were at 5.0 and ammonia down to .5. I didn't get Nitrate test kit until this past weekend as really didn't see the point. Thought those levels really don't go down on there own with out a water change.

But should I add more ammonia in tomorrow and then test again 24 hours and see if it reads back to 0 for both ammonia and nitrites ?

My pump has been running the entire cycle so far, Skimmer about 2 weeks in and had no lights on.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nitrate is more important imo.
Ammona nitrites Nitrates that’s the cycle.
If you have ammonia and no3 your cycle is progressing. If you have no Ammona and nitrates it’s cycling.

Your jump in no3 is odd. You could add Ammona and see if it makes more no3.
And yea, turn the skimmer off of you add bacteria

 

[Liron Mishal]

Not sure if it makes any difference,
But your ammonia kit says "freshwater"...

 

[David J]

Don't think so I'll have to double check. Thanks for pointing that out. Tonight I'll test again, Then if I get the same or similar results with low no3 I'll add in some ammonia. If tomorrow its back to zero and same with nitrites wouldn't that mean my tank has pretty much cycled regardless of the no3 reading ? If its able to process the ammonia in 24 hours ?

 

[David J]

Contains one (1) API AMMONIA 130-Test Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Water , Works for both thats kind of what I thought.

 

[jd371]

Not sure if it makes any difference,
But your ammonia kit says "freshwater"...

I believe there is a very slight difference in the colors between the freshwater and saltwater at either the lower range or higher, I don't recall which. I remember putting the two side by side and noticing a slight difference.

 

[David J]

ordered the red sea marine kit I'll have it friday. double check readings against that.

 

[David J]

Just tested again pretty same results as before. Going to add in about 20 drops of ammonium Check 30 min after and check again tomorrow.

 

[David J]

After adding drops

 

[David J]

Ok next day test , Ammonia still High about .5 but down from yesterday. Nitrites are up and same with Nitrates. Once Ammonia goes to 0 and nitrites should be good for fish correct ?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Don’t care about nitrites.

Ammonia to zero and the presence/increase of nitrates.

 

[David J]

Yeah, I'm hoping that will be the case tonight. Looks like Nitrates did go up though from the following day. I think they were just low levels. My Red sea test kit will be here today so I'll test with that as well to confirm results.

 

[David J]

Ok I need some advice here what do you think I can retest in the AM, think im good to get some fish, do a 25 % water change test in am again see if nitrites go down more. Think Ammonia is 0 or .02, nitrite .5 and Nitrates 10/20 What do you think for the readings

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’d let it stew personally.

 

[David J]

I was going to retest tomorrow at lunch time so another 15 hours. To me ammonia is near 0, Nitrites are .5 and Nitrates 10-20. I Did Add the ammonia in again 2 days ago to 1ppm.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I was going to retest tomorrow at lunch time so another 15 hours. To me ammonia is near 0, Nitrites are .5 and Nitrates 10-20. I Did Add the ammonia in again 2 days ago to 1ppm.

I’d look for zero ammona.
We’re it me , I wouldn’t have counted on putting fish in till 2/10.

 

[David J]

No I don't really care when they go in, I'm having a big super bowl party Sunday so if things were looking good I was going to try to get a pair of clowns in the tank. If its still High im not going to try and do a 50% water change or something to get it lower. Obviously the bactera can't handle the bio load of the increased Ammonia, Granted it was almost 1/2 the dose that you do when you start the cycle so I didn't expect it to be gone in a day. I would say tomorrow if Ammonia is 0 though thats a pretty decent turn around.