echz
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hello all! About 2 weeks ago, I picked up an API Master Kit (FW) and have been doing daily water tests while waiting for my tank to get established. Everything was set up in early January, and fish were added in twos (2 a week for 4 weeks) about 2 weeks after it was up and running.
I'm doing a "Fish-In" cycle, since I had already added fish before I knew of the cycling process (Oops! DUH! lol). There are 8 fish currently in the tank, and all seem to be doing well.
Anyways, my water test readings have been coming out steadily, reading:
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.25 to 0.5 ppm
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 10 to 20 ppm
Ammonia will vary from 0.25 to 0.5ppm, and doesn't seem to drop on its own. I've been doing daily 50% water changes (15g per change), adding a tbsp of aquarium salt and 2.5ml water conditioner to each 5 gallons I add.
My question is, basically, is something wrong? Is my cycle "stuck"? It's just odd to me that my levels are reading this steady for this long, yet the ammonia levels don't seem to be going down! ... Unless I'm cycled and don't know it, or I'm just way too impatient?
Thanks for any insight anyone can provide!
I'm doing a "Fish-In" cycle, since I had already added fish before I knew of the cycling process (Oops! DUH! lol). There are 8 fish currently in the tank, and all seem to be doing well.
Anyways, my water test readings have been coming out steadily, reading:
pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.25 to 0.5 ppm
NitrItes: 0
NitrAtes: 10 to 20 ppm
Ammonia will vary from 0.25 to 0.5ppm, and doesn't seem to drop on its own. I've been doing daily 50% water changes (15g per change), adding a tbsp of aquarium salt and 2.5ml water conditioner to each 5 gallons I add.
My question is, basically, is something wrong? Is my cycle "stuck"? It's just odd to me that my levels are reading this steady for this long, yet the ammonia levels don't seem to be going down! ... Unless I'm cycled and don't know it, or I'm just way too impatient?
Thanks for any insight anyone can provide!