CleverBs
Aquarium Advice Addict
So im testing Ammonia and the water in the tube keeps turning a murky lime green. Is this normal? if not why is this happening? its color dosent match any color on the chat either.
How long has it been?
I think your ammonia has spiked and reached 0. Now your bacteria for converting nitrites to nitrates is building. This will spike as well before you have many nitrates. You want 0 nitrItes. Did you mix up the nitrite/nitrate readings?
I'm not familiar with cycling with fish though I imagine it wouldn't be much different.
xxStLxx said:The greenish murky yellow color based on the color card is equivalent to 0.0. So its good there. But I've always thought that API is poorly made test kits for saltwater purposes. As long as your ammonia and nitrite read zero and you have nitrate your tank is fully cycled.
Just remember to not go crazy and buy a whole bunch of fish to add to the tank because you will crash it as the beneficial bacteria in the tank will not be able to keep up with the bio-load. My best rule of thumb is after the tank is cycled with the damsel, don't add anymore fish for 2-3 weeks as to let it settle down chemistry wise. After that wait period remove the damsel as they are terrorists, bullies and territorial fish and put another hardy fish that's on your list into the tank (i.e. clown fish pair, or wrasse). Allow another 2-3 weeks in between adding fish and no more than 3 fish per time you add. (if you like the look of damsels and want them add them last in your tank after the other fish have had a month or so to establish their territory so the damsels wont mess anything up) Also 1" of fish per 2-3 gallons