Naekuh
Valuable Member
Traditionally, what I remember doing is not really caring about nitrates. Its only there to see if your cycle is working and starting. So it was to represent 0 -> cycle still starting or stalled. 1+ -> got bacteria going.
Because you will be doing a 30-50% water change anyhow before you put live stock if its a empty cycle tank.
Nothing is in the tank except bacteria, and they can easily handle a swing in water params way better then your livestock.
So i wouldn't get more test kits, unless you need it and take .25 on the API is near 0.
Just get some ammonia like Dr. Tims, and artifically dose for 2ppm.
That will be a bright mid green on API.
Wait til that goes .25 ppm. the mountain dew color.
And repeat it until your ammonia goes from 2ppm -> .25ppm within close to a 24hour period.
Then when it does that, see how much nitrates are in the tank, and then perform a final water change of 30-50% to remove all that excess nitrate then restock.
Because you will be doing a 30-50% water change anyhow before you put live stock if its a empty cycle tank.
Nothing is in the tank except bacteria, and they can easily handle a swing in water params way better then your livestock.
So i wouldn't get more test kits, unless you need it and take .25 on the API is near 0.
Just get some ammonia like Dr. Tims, and artifically dose for 2ppm.
That will be a bright mid green on API.
Wait til that goes .25 ppm. the mountain dew color.
And repeat it until your ammonia goes from 2ppm -> .25ppm within close to a 24hour period.
Then when it does that, see how much nitrates are in the tank, and then perform a final water change of 30-50% to remove all that excess nitrate then restock.
