Retarting fishless cycle from scratch...help!

[sammybelle]

I practically had my coat on to go fish shopping when...

...I checked water parameters one last time. At 6:30 a.m yesterday I had dosed my tank with 5ml of ammonia (which has been consistently making my water read 4ppm ammonia, although I didn't check it this time) and figured I'd check 24 hours later. Just checked 1/2 hour ago. Ammonia=0, nitrates=40 or 80 (which I expected), pH is 7.0 which I also wasn't surprised at because I figured buffers were being used up to some degree. BUT I was really disheartened when I looked at the Nitrites, which according to the color chart definitely does NOT match the 0 ppm but also definitely does NOT match the 0.25 ppm. The best way I can describe it is that the test tube color is a very pale blue, but when put next to the 0 ppm color chart, the test tube has more "blue" to it, where the color chart has more of an "aqua" color to it, I guess I would say more "green" in it. I tried the test x2 and am coming up with the same result.

I'm tired of being in the "getting started" forum and want to graduate to the "fish profile" forum!!

 

[jlk]

Hi! With a nitrate level of 40-80ppm, you need to do a big water change anyway before getting fish. Your nitrates should be as low as you can get them (your tap level). Wait 15mins after the big wc & retest your nitrites (and nitrates). It sounds like your reading @.125ppm right now- the color looks a more 'blue' color vs an 'aqua' color that is on the chart for a zero reading.

If your tank has been steadily zeroing out amm/nitrite in 24hrs for a couple of days, you should be fine for fish after doing a water change.