Hey everyone, really needing some help here.
Ive begun cycling my tank about 2 weeks ago using ace hardware pure ammonia and bio-spire. I dosed Ammonia to around 2.5ppm (no higher than 3) one time. The ammonia came and went, but I have had bright purple nitrites on the API test. So, today I filled one tube up with 100% tank water, and one tube 50% tan water and 50% RO water. Both tests came out identical in color, maxing out the 5 ppm max on the test kit.
I would think this would mean I have a bad test, however at the very beginning of my cycle nitrites began at zero.
Not sure why nitrites are so disproportionately hight compared to what ammonia was dosed to, but Im questioning whether I should do a large water change to lower them? Still not seeing any nitrates... Is there any way the API test could be reading Nitrates and Nitrite on the Nitrite test? This would be the only way I could understand why they are so high. Any help??
Heres a pic of the 2 tests. the 50% RO and 50% tank water is on the left and the 100% tank water is on the right.
Ive begun cycling my tank about 2 weeks ago using ace hardware pure ammonia and bio-spire. I dosed Ammonia to around 2.5ppm (no higher than 3) one time. The ammonia came and went, but I have had bright purple nitrites on the API test. So, today I filled one tube up with 100% tank water, and one tube 50% tan water and 50% RO water. Both tests came out identical in color, maxing out the 5 ppm max on the test kit.
I would think this would mean I have a bad test, however at the very beginning of my cycle nitrites began at zero.
Not sure why nitrites are so disproportionately hight compared to what ammonia was dosed to, but Im questioning whether I should do a large water change to lower them? Still not seeing any nitrates... Is there any way the API test could be reading Nitrates and Nitrite on the Nitrite test? This would be the only way I could understand why they are so high. Any help??
Heres a pic of the 2 tests. the 50% RO and 50% tank water is on the left and the 100% tank water is on the right.