Nitr8s going down?

[Upstate TBarbs]

I'm about 3 1/2 weeks into fishless cycling of a 54 gal corner tank. I'm using Ace ammonia because it is easier to control than a rotting shrimp or fish flakes. There are no live plants in my tank.

Yesterdays readings
Ammonia: 0.5 PPM
NitrIte: Approaching 5 PPM
Nitr8: About 20 PPM.

Redosed the tank up to about 2 PPM ammonia.

Todays readings
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 PPM
NitrIte: Over 5 PPM
Nitr8: About 5 PPM.

I've heard that live plants will help with Nitr8s, but I don't have any. Just wondering what could have caused a 15PPM Nitr8 drop.

Also, is it PWC time, or just wait until NitrItes drop?

 

[dalto]

Are you sure the nitrate drop isn't a problem with your testing kit/process?

 

[Upstate TBarbs]

Pretty sure. I too 2 Nitr8 readings today, they looked the same about 5 PPM. I used two separate vials, didn't rinse and reuse, so I could compare the two. And yesterdays Nitr8 reading and the day befores Nitr8 reading were both about 20 PPM.

 

[coralbandit]

You are shaking the #2 reagent bottle well[30 seconds] before adding drops to vial?

 

[Upstate TBarbs]

Yes, and shaking the test tube for a full minute after adding drops from #2.

 

[Upstate TBarbs]

Todays readings
Ammonia: 0 PPM
NitrIte: Over 5 PPM
Nitr8: 10 - 20 PPM, hard for me to tell the difference in the orange colors.