saberry
Aquarium Advice Freak
Well, I began my cycle about 2½ weeks ago with two raw shrimp and have been diligently testing ammonia and nitrite - usually everyday, but ocaocassionally every other day. The ammonia was steadily rising but I never saw any nitrites. About 1½ weeks into the cycle, I added my live rock. The last couple of tests, the ammonia had sstabilizedbut still no nitrites.
Well, over the holiday weekend, I went a couple of days without testing. So tonight, I tested again but showed zero ammonia and zero nitrites. Now I'm thinking, what's going on...did I mess the tests up? Then it dawned on me that just maybe I should check for nitrates. Five minutes later, and you guessed it, I have 15 ppm nitrates.
I was expecting at least another week to cycle. Did the lr speed things up that much? Do you think the shift from nitrites to nitrates happened in just those last couple days?
So, I guess now for a partial water change and time to get a couple fish.
Well, over the holiday weekend, I went a couple of days without testing. So tonight, I tested again but showed zero ammonia and zero nitrites. Now I'm thinking, what's going on...did I mess the tests up? Then it dawned on me that just maybe I should check for nitrates. Five minutes later, and you guessed it, I have 15 ppm nitrates.
I was expecting at least another week to cycle. Did the lr speed things up that much? Do you think the shift from nitrites to nitrates happened in just those last couple days?
So, I guess now for a partial water change and time to get a couple fish.