Newb with a Newb Tank; How's it Doing So Far? (pics)

[TheIrishJedi]

I set this 10g tank up on Sunday (my first). Let it run for 24 hours and then I bought a crawdad and an API test kit.

Here are the results:

Monday (Day 1):

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.50
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
30% Water Change Completed after test.

Tuesday (2):

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0
No water change

Wednesday (3)

pH 7.4
Ammonia 0.50 (maybe 1.0)
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5.0
30% Water Change after test.

My crawdad is still alive. I think I'm doing these tests right. Sometimes it is hard for me to differentiate the colors on the scale. I thought I was supposed to see a rise in Nitrites before Nitrates and that it wasn't supposed to happen this fast? Have a look:

Ammonia:


Nitrites:



Nitrates:



(I'm not the best photographer)

Let me know what you think. How long does my Crawdad have to live?

[Yellow Eye Tang]

A 10g tank will cycle much faster than bigger tanks. Right now everything looks good and your crawdad will be fine. Every time you do a 30% water change you slash the nitrites and ammonia percentages. If you keep up the water changes every other day for a week or two you should be good. Your crawdad will be fine as well. I like to keep my starter filter in for a long time because it will be the first thing to gather a lot of the beneficial bacteria needed. Keep doing what your doing and watch the nitrites and your little crawdad will be fine. You might test PH once in a while too. GOOD LUCK!