Please help: Re: Cycling

[steph101]

Im at the end of my cycle and i did the big, final water change (about 70%)
I tested the water after I added fresh water and these are the readings:
ammonia- 0.25ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
nitrate- between 40 and 80ppm

BEFORE i did the water change the readings were:
Ammonia- 3ppm (this is only because I added ammonia to feed bacteria, my tank cycles ammonia from 5ppm to 0ppm within 24 hours)
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 40- 80ppm

Why hasnt the Nitrate gone down? Could it be due to me adding too much Ammonia? I really want to get fish tomorrow so any advice on how to correct this will be really helpful. Do I do another water change and add no ammonia?

 

[abw0004]

Yes do that. With those readings I assume you have no plants in the aquarium

 

[steph101]

I do have plants

 

[abw0004]

Do a 50% water change without the ammonia. Then do the test and get back to us.

 

[jwh0818]

Did you condition the water you added? Have you checked your tap water for nitrates?

 

[steph101]

So i did the 50% WC. Here are the results:

Ammonia- 1ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 40ppm

 

[abw0004]

If your ammonia went up with the water change test your tap water. Also are you using strips or drops for testing?

 

[steph101]

If your ammonia went up with the water change test your tap water. Also are you using strips or drops for testing?

Ammonia went down
Using drops

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