chlwong Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Hey everyone.So a few days ago (~4 days) I set up my tank and began to cycle it right away. After a couple of days I began testing my water and I had these results:NH3: 0-0.25ppm NO2: 0-0.25ppm NO3: ~ 5ppm I found this odd but I figured there wasn't any ammonia to start the cycle. So I took a sponge and some granite marbles from an older tank and swished them around in my new tank to seed it. I also put a pinch of fish food (which was ground up) in there.A day later, I tested the water again and this time I got these results after dropping some fish food into the tank and waiting a few hours:NH3: 0.25ppmNO2: 0ppmNO3: 5.0ppm What is going on? Is my tank safe for fish already? If so, how? If not, what exactly is going on right now?I'm headed out tomorrow morning to find some ammonia in a bottle in order to test if it is in fact cycled, but I thought I'd post something here in the hopes that someone else has had the same experience.Thanks!Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Wait....just wait. The 'cycle' takes time for the nitrifying bacteria count to rise to appropriate levels for the tank as well as ammonia and nitrite to become zero. Seed the tank with the old material which you did and just wait. the numbers you want are zero, zero and then a reading. When the first two are zero your tank is cycled. (could be bad test kits as well) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I'm inclined to think it's the kit. Add the ammonia to at least a few ppm, then you'll get proper answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkSolid Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I too question the resolution of these colorimetric assays. I think they are valuable and I use them, but delineating ammonia concentration @ 0.25 ppm is not realistic considering observer error and their inherent limitations. I like the idea of a more macro approach, dosing 2.0ppm and observing major drops in a 24 hour period. Then you know your bacteria are rocking! I did it on my 120 this summer and it was a beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.