bosk1
Aquarium Advice FINatic
When coming to the end of my cycle, I made a huge mistake, as some of you know. I think I understand it, so I will post in hopes that someone else can benefit from this knowledge.
My fishless cycle took quite a while, but my ammonia eventually began to fall to the point where I could add 2-4 ppm, and it would be gone in 24 hours. Nitrites took a while longer, but I saw them eventually start to fall. The interesting thing is, they seemed to fall to zero. All during the process, I kept adding ammonia as I was supposed to, because I had to keep the first set of bacteria well fed and alive. Apparently, the nitrites were still climbing. The test kit says to look at the result after five minutes. Well, with mine, after five minutes, it was powder blue--the zero color. BUT (and here's where I made the mistake), when I first added the reagent, it would turn bright magenta immediately, and then fade to the powder blue over the course of the five minute waiting period. What I have deduced from the experience is that my nitrites were VERY high to the point they were off the scale. Apparently, the reagent in the test kit will not function properly if the nitrites are so high, and may give a false reading. (I am not saying the test kit is defective here--it does what it is designed to do, but it appears that it is possible for levels to be so high as to overload its capacity) I have since learned that, even though it is the reading after five minutes and not the initial reading that counts, the initial color should be blue. If it is bright magenta or purple and then fades, there are most likely nitrites present in high levels, no matter what the kit reads after five minutes. A wise member of this board very appropriately pointed out to me that the initial magenta color should have been a big red flag. In hindsight, I have to agree that he is absolutely correct. It was a warning sign, but was one that I missed. Even though I thought my tank was cycled because it looked like my nitrites and spiked and then fallen, I should have taken a few extra days just to be certain. I did not really understand at the time, but thankfully am on track right now.
To remedy the problem, I conducted a 50-60% pwc, and then another one the same evening a few hours later before bed. Then another first thing in the morning. Then another when I got home from work, followed by introducing a 1 oz. pack of Bio-Spira. (My tank warranted 2 oz. based on size, but because I was already so far into the cycle, I thought I would try 1 oz. first, and then get another if needed) This did the trick. By the morning after I added the Bio-Spira, my parameters have been almost perfect (ph is a little high, but that's my local water supply; all nitrogen-cycle parameters were ideal). Conditions have been ideal for the last few days with no sign of nitrites. Thank goodness I only lost one clown loach. It could have been a lot worse. But even that one fish didn't have to die if I had understood the warning signs.
Perhaps all of the above is obvious, but again, I post this in case anyone else should ever run into this situation in the future so that they will not make the same mistake.
My fishless cycle took quite a while, but my ammonia eventually began to fall to the point where I could add 2-4 ppm, and it would be gone in 24 hours. Nitrites took a while longer, but I saw them eventually start to fall. The interesting thing is, they seemed to fall to zero. All during the process, I kept adding ammonia as I was supposed to, because I had to keep the first set of bacteria well fed and alive. Apparently, the nitrites were still climbing. The test kit says to look at the result after five minutes. Well, with mine, after five minutes, it was powder blue--the zero color. BUT (and here's where I made the mistake), when I first added the reagent, it would turn bright magenta immediately, and then fade to the powder blue over the course of the five minute waiting period. What I have deduced from the experience is that my nitrites were VERY high to the point they were off the scale. Apparently, the reagent in the test kit will not function properly if the nitrites are so high, and may give a false reading. (I am not saying the test kit is defective here--it does what it is designed to do, but it appears that it is possible for levels to be so high as to overload its capacity) I have since learned that, even though it is the reading after five minutes and not the initial reading that counts, the initial color should be blue. If it is bright magenta or purple and then fades, there are most likely nitrites present in high levels, no matter what the kit reads after five minutes. A wise member of this board very appropriately pointed out to me that the initial magenta color should have been a big red flag. In hindsight, I have to agree that he is absolutely correct. It was a warning sign, but was one that I missed. Even though I thought my tank was cycled because it looked like my nitrites and spiked and then fallen, I should have taken a few extra days just to be certain. I did not really understand at the time, but thankfully am on track right now.
To remedy the problem, I conducted a 50-60% pwc, and then another one the same evening a few hours later before bed. Then another first thing in the morning. Then another when I got home from work, followed by introducing a 1 oz. pack of Bio-Spira. (My tank warranted 2 oz. based on size, but because I was already so far into the cycle, I thought I would try 1 oz. first, and then get another if needed) This did the trick. By the morning after I added the Bio-Spira, my parameters have been almost perfect (ph is a little high, but that's my local water supply; all nitrogen-cycle parameters were ideal). Conditions have been ideal for the last few days with no sign of nitrites. Thank goodness I only lost one clown loach. It could have been a lot worse. But even that one fish didn't have to die if I had understood the warning signs.
Perhaps all of the above is obvious, but again, I post this in case anyone else should ever run into this situation in the future so that they will not make the same mistake.
It makes sense that if the level is so high that it turns the blue coloration after the meganta. Good observation and I'm glad that you brought it to everyones attention. 
