Alaris
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I've been cycling my 10g for 3 weeks. I've had nitrItes present for 18 days and at or way above 5.0 for 16 days. I've been dosing 4ppm ammonia everyday because it would go to 0 in less than 18 hours. At one point the nitrIte reading wasn't purple or dark fuchsia. It was frickin' AQUAMARINE! It would turn dark fuchsia and then end up on bright aquamarine within the 5 minute period. (API test)
I've added plants and done 2 50% water changes, didn't dose ammonia for 3 days, now dose ammonia at 1-2ppm, haven't tested tank in 5 days. Today my nitrIte reading was still 5.0ppm. I'm frustrated. I keep adding ammonia to not starve the bacteria who in turn keep pumping out the nitrItes with no bacteria to eat it.
Which one of these would help me and/or which do you suggest I try:
1.) add more plants
2.) add "fresh" seed from an established tank (I did this at the beginning and I think that's why I got nitrItes so soon. I've since removed it since it obviously wasn't helping anymore)
3.) add fish flakes
4.) BioSpira
5.) just keep dosing ammonia and wait (but you must promise me it will finish cycling)
I was being very patient until my nitrIte kit tested aquamarine. I put the test drops in the tube like usual, shook it, it immediately turned dark fuchsia, and then I sat it down, disappointed. 5 minutes later I decided to hold it up to the test card anyway and it was light purple! I jumped up in excitement and did a victory dance! FINALLY!! And while I was testing a new tube for nitrAtes, I looked at the nitrIte test: aquamarine? It faded? What.....does.....it.....mean? I tested again and again it faded. I later deduced that the test could no longer read my nitrItes: they were off the charts. I cried.
I've added plants and done 2 50% water changes, didn't dose ammonia for 3 days, now dose ammonia at 1-2ppm, haven't tested tank in 5 days. Today my nitrIte reading was still 5.0ppm. I'm frustrated. I keep adding ammonia to not starve the bacteria who in turn keep pumping out the nitrItes with no bacteria to eat it.
Which one of these would help me and/or which do you suggest I try:
1.) add more plants
2.) add "fresh" seed from an established tank (I did this at the beginning and I think that's why I got nitrItes so soon. I've since removed it since it obviously wasn't helping anymore)
3.) add fish flakes
4.) BioSpira
5.) just keep dosing ammonia and wait (but you must promise me it will finish cycling)
I was being very patient until my nitrIte kit tested aquamarine. I put the test drops in the tube like usual, shook it, it immediately turned dark fuchsia, and then I sat it down, disappointed. 5 minutes later I decided to hold it up to the test card anyway and it was light purple! I jumped up in excitement and did a victory dance! FINALLY!! And while I was testing a new tube for nitrAtes, I looked at the nitrIte test: aquamarine? It faded? What.....does.....it.....mean? I tested again and again it faded. I later deduced that the test could no longer read my nitrItes: they were off the charts. I cried.