I’m cycling my tank I’m on day 12 my ammonia is zero my nitrite is around 2, 4 ppm and my nitrate is around 100 probably more do I keep dosing ammonia

[tiny9026]

I would do 4 gallons.

I did a water change this is what it looks like from the top 10 to 25 is it safe to add fish now?

 

[Aaron75]

Yes, you're good to go.

 

[tiny9026]

Good point. Looking through the side changes the path length of the light by a factor of 10. So 100 ppm becomes 10 ppm. But that looks too dark to be using the side view result.

Wait so if it’s 100ppm from looking at it from the side it’s 10ppm nitrate ?

 

[Formulator]

Wait so if it’s 100ppm from looking at it from the side it’s 10ppm nitrate ?

Yes. But you have to start with looking from above and if it is too light to see, switch to the side so you can get a reading.

 

[tiny9026]

Yes. But you have to start with looking from above and if it is too light to see, switch to the side so you can get a reading.

This is how it looks right now is it safe to add fish but when I look at it from the side it looks dark

 

[twentyleagues]

This is how it looks right now is it safe to add fish but when I look at it from the side it looks dark

It will look darker from the side. I would say top down is correct for that amount of color. If it was twice as light (little to no color) you would view it from the side.

 

[tiny9026]

It will look darker from the side. I would say top down is correct for that amount of color. If it was twice as light (little to no color) you would view it from the side.

Oh okay thank you so is it in the safe range to add fish my ammonia and nitrite are zero I was thinking of adding 2 clowns

 

[Formulator]

This is how it looks right now is it safe to add fish but when I look at it from the side it looks dark

You are good to go. And yes from the side it looks dark. Thats the whole point…

In more detailed technical terms the relationship between concentration and the pathlength (distance the light travels through the liquid to reach your eyes or a detector) is explained by the Lambert-Beer law. This states that the absorption of light by a sample is directly proportional to both its concentration and path length.

 

[kvansloo]

Oh okay thank you so is it in the safe range to add fish my ammonia and nitrite are zero I was thinking of adding 2 clowns

Yes, it is safe to add fish.