Ammonia/ nitrate

[Codemasterflex1]

So I’m cycling a new tank. My ammonia is .25 ppm my nitrites is 0ppm and my nitrate is either 80 or 160 ppm (kinda hard to read the color a little). I’m just wondering what I should do because my ammonia hasn’t hit zero but my nitrites have. I’m a little confused about it.

 

[TuxUrchin07]

So I’m cycling a new tank. My ammonia is .25 ppm my nitrites is 0ppm and my nitrate is either 80 or 160 ppm (kinda hard to read the color a little). I’m just wondering what I should do because my ammonia hasn’t hit zero but my nitrites have. I’m a little confused about it.

Keep cycling. Or if u r using API test kits maybe buy something else. API is not very accurate

 

[brandon429]

Cycling

So my tank has been cycling for about a month now. I used BRS dry rock and live sand. I used Dr. Tim’s one and only and have been dosing there bottled ammonia. I accidentally bought a second bottle of Dr. Tim’s one and only and wanted to know if I could just add that extra bottle into my cycling...

www.reef2reef.com

left out critical details in this new post, your cycle is done

 

[Cheeze]

How long since the tank went wet, and what method are you using to cycle (chemical, ghost feeding, etc.?) A cycle can take any where from weeks to a couple of months (at least!) before Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates settle to a post-cycled stage.

 

[brandon429]

its been over a month, on bottle bac

he's all set and complete


Codemaster
google: api false ammonia read

look at what numbers comes up as the false read

 

[TuxUrchin07]

its been over a month, on bottle bac

he's all set and complete


google: api false ammonia read

and looking at what numbers comes up

Yeah if he is using API that’s probably why

 

[Azedenkae]

So I’m cycling a new tank. My ammonia is .25 ppm my nitrites is 0ppm and my nitrate is either 80 or 160 ppm (kinda hard to read the color a little). I’m just wondering what I should do because my ammonia hasn’t hit zero but my nitrites have. I’m a little confused about it.

Ammonia does tend to read as 0.25ppm with the ammonia test kit even though it's zero, or at least close enough to zero. So yeah treat it as 0, essentially.

 

[Codemasterflex1]

I would def believe it’s the API test because last time I cycled my tank with live rock and etc. everything was reading normal just like now but the ammonia and it was the same thing at .25 ppm for maybe a week or two.

 

[brandon429]

needs TAN conversion

after TAN its .025 which is safe

I didnt even know about TAN conversions till Dan explained it yep just passing on the info.

 

[Codemasterflex1]

Cycling

So my tank has been cycling for about a month now. I used BRS dry rock and live sand. I used Dr. Tim’s one and only and have been dosing there bottled ammonia. I accidentally bought a second bottle of Dr. Tim’s one and only and wanted to know if I could just add that extra bottle into my cycling...

www.reef2reef.com

you left out critical details in this new post, your cycle is done. even if a third thread is made, your cycle is done for the reasons linked to you in that one. its proof done/finished, no other links were provided showing it was not complete.

I didn’t mean to make another thread. I just wasn’t able to test my tank till today and I had some general question about the bottled bacteria. My apologies

 

[Codemasterflex1]

So I should just do a large water change to get rid of those high nitrates and I’ll be good to go?

 

[TuxUrchin07]

So I should just do a large water change to get rid of those high nitrates and I’ll be good to go?

Good to go for what? For coral? If u want fish it should be fine if you get your nitrates under control. For coral tho u probably need to get your parameters stable before adding anything

 

[Codemasterflex1]

Coral I’ll def wait on till I get my parameters more stable. I just wanted to do a water change to add my two clownfish back into the tank. What should my nitrates read after the water change?

 

[TuxUrchin07]

Coral I’ll def wait on till I get my parameters more stable. I just wanted to do a water change to add my two clownfish back into the tank. What should my nitrates read after the water change?

10 ish is ideal but I actually made a really bad mistake of getting a Hanna ultra low range nitrate checker and I didn’t know it could only measure until 5 so my nitrate went up to 100. Weird thing is all my corals and fish did fine… so I couldn’t tell. But still definitely don’t put fish in at over 20 nitrate

 

[Jekyl]

Nitrate won't harm fish. I had mine over 200 for a while. Just best to get your levels in order before there's things living that you have to account for. Coral I would wait a couple months after fish.

 

[Codemasterflex1]

Okay cool thank you. So 50 percent water change?

 

[Jekyl]

Okay cool thank you. So 50 percent water change?

75 would be better. Then start slow. 1 maybe 2 small fish and don't go overboard with feedings. Test every few days to see how your tank reacts.

 

[Codemasterflex1]

Okay thank you.

 

[ying yang]

I still dont get this api mainly always gives 0.25 amnonia reading.
0= milky yellow as it saltwater.
0.25= lime green.
I keep reading it all time but just dont get why always 0.25 amnonia?
Is it because 0= milky yellow and think it sort of going to lime or what ?
Serious question

 

[Jekyl]

I still dont get this api mainly always gives 0.25 amnonia reading.
0= milky yellow as it saltwater.
0.25= lime green.
I keep reading it all time but just dont get why always 0.25 amnonia?
Is it because 0= milky yellow and think it sort of going to lime or what ?
Serious question

Everyone has the same issues with API. It's why they're so much cheaper than other test brands.