Fishperson
Aquarium Advice Addict
OK, I'll try it. When should I expect to see nitrates? Should they have already appeared?
I tested just now and got:
0 ammonia
7.8 ph
and that weird nitrite thing.
I did the nitrate test 2 different ways:
1. Did as directed, added 10 drops of bottle #1, inverted several times, shook #2 for 30 seconds, added 10 drops of #2, shook for a minute. I got 5--10 nitrates, as usual
2. Shook #2 for 30 seconds, added 10 drops of #1 and 10 drops of #2, then shook for a minute. I read this one 5 minutes after I added in the drops from both bottles. So 4 minutes after shaking. But this time, I got ~100 nitrates!!!
Which was right?
It's okay to do water changes. Won't harm the cycle.
Nitrite: Weird reading
Nitrate: 5-10
Ph: 7.7
Sounds like they might be off-chart. I'd do a full water change, wait an hour or so and then test nitrite again. If it's still high, do another water change. Try to get them to a readable level on the chart (<2) then redose ammonia and check in 24 hours.