NO2 dropped to 0 but ammonia still at 80 ppm??

[runway1]

My NO2 came in, peaked for a few days and then slammed to 0. My ammonia spiked at 200 ppm, and dropped to 80 ppm in the same time frame.

Is this normal? I thought NO2 should trail the ammonia reading. Can NO3 form in these conditions? TIA

 

[Brad]

You are correct, the nitrite spike should follow the ammonia spike. The end product is nitrate.

You may just be in the midpoint of the cycle. Ammonia would still be being produced in the system and the bacteria may not have multiplied quite enough yet to keep it down to zero level.

It could also be your test kit.

 

[loganj]

What kind of test kit are you using? Did you use any products that claim to remove or lock ammonia?

 

[runway1]

No added products. I'm using a test strip product called Quick Dip. it tests for Ammonia, NO2, NO3, ph and salinity in one strip.

Ammonia is steadily declinng but NO2 spiked and just disappeared.