My cycle test wondering how my tank is doing with your opinion
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Looks like ammonia still present, 0.5 ish, plenty of nitrite. The nitrate test results are meaningless as long as nitrite, an interfering substance, is present. Dr. Tim’s is kinda slow to start, hence the residual ammonia.
Process is nearly complete. If you are in a hurry, you can wait longer for the ammonia and nitrite to be consumed or do a large water change to reduce the ammonia. The presence of nitrite in a saltwater system not a concern.
Process is nearly complete. If you are in a hurry, you can wait longer for the ammonia and nitrite to be consumed or do a large water change to reduce the ammonia. The presence of nitrite in a saltwater system not a concern.
The results are inconclusive and not easily verified. I would stop adding any chemicals and test again tomorrow and see if the results are any better.
PotatoPig
Valuable Member
API is notorious for false positives down at the 0.25 level, so don’t worry about that yet.
As others have said, the nitrites are present (so you’re cycling ammonia, which is good), and until the nitrites are processed they’ll interfere with the nitrate test making the numbers look ridiculously huge.
Stop adding ammonia. The ammonia should drop to 0 or 0.25 soon, and nitrites will drop shortly after. Then the nitrate test will be accurate.
Note that nitrates and nitrites aren’t really an issue in reef tanks due to the saltwater, but if you want to lower them in a hurry you can do a large water change, but I don’t think I’d worry about it.
Note that nitrAtes aren’t processed in any meaningful way by bacteria in an average reef tank, these will only be significantly removed by corals/algae consuming them or by water changes - so don’t wait around for your nitrates to drop is what I’m saying.
As others have said, the nitrites are present (so you’re cycling ammonia, which is good), and until the nitrites are processed they’ll interfere with the nitrate test making the numbers look ridiculously huge.
Stop adding ammonia. The ammonia should drop to 0 or 0.25 soon, and nitrites will drop shortly after. Then the nitrate test will be accurate.
Note that nitrates and nitrites aren’t really an issue in reef tanks due to the saltwater, but if you want to lower them in a hurry you can do a large water change, but I don’t think I’d worry about it.
Note that nitrAtes aren’t processed in any meaningful way by bacteria in an average reef tank, these will only be significantly removed by corals/algae consuming them or by water changes - so don’t wait around for your nitrates to drop is what I’m saying.
blake524
New Member
Ok glad to hear everything is doing what it should! I’m not in a rush at all so I will just keep letting it go tell it’s fully cycled just want to make sure it gets fully cycled correctly
What are you planning to put in the tank once it has cycled with Dr.Tim’s?
blake524
New Member
I plan on getting two clown fish ones it is cycled then I would like to get some corals whenever I can add corals
The clownfish can likely be safely added after a water change to improve water quality. Most people wait to add corals to let the tank mature.
Ironically the corals could probably have been added first since they enjoy eating ammonia rather than nitrates, but they also like pods and microalgaes and bacteria which tend to be more prevelant in older systems. GL!
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