Bubbleguppy
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2018
- Messages
- 14
I got a ten gallon tank on Sunday and I've decided not to put any fish in it until it cycles. I put fish food in it every day and I test the water every other day. My problem is I don't have an API master kit , I'm using Tetra 5 in 1 easy strips , and I'm aware the results can be innacurate .
I've read that first ammonia levels will rise and then decrease, and then nitrite levels will rise . Problem is my strips don't test for ammonia they test for Nitrates , nitrites, Hardness, Alkalinity, and PH. So I've been testing to see if my nitrite levels are raising but they seem to be at 0 ppm according to the test strips. What should I do , should I continue testing until I see nitrites rise or assume the cycling hasn't begun , or is it safe to assume nitrite levels haven't risen yet but ammonia is present ? I might invest in ammonia test strips or an API kit as soon as I can. I'm attaching an image of today's test as it is confusing me.
I've read that first ammonia levels will rise and then decrease, and then nitrite levels will rise . Problem is my strips don't test for ammonia they test for Nitrates , nitrites, Hardness, Alkalinity, and PH. So I've been testing to see if my nitrite levels are raising but they seem to be at 0 ppm according to the test strips. What should I do , should I continue testing until I see nitrites rise or assume the cycling hasn't begun , or is it safe to assume nitrite levels haven't risen yet but ammonia is present ? I might invest in ammonia test strips or an API kit as soon as I can. I'm attaching an image of today's test as it is confusing me.