Have a very small freshwater tank, a 3 gallon glass Mr. Aqua tank. (Yes, it's a tiny tank, but I live in a very tiny NYC apartment.)
Didn't have the patience to properly cycle the tank, because of my 4 year old boy who was going nuts for fish.
Started with 3 tiny Harlequin rasbora after running the tank for a week with chemical treatments using API Quick Start. Fast forward three weeks. The fish are doing OK.
I'm on the full suite of chemicals from API: Quick Start, Stress Zyme, Stress Coat, and Ammo Lock. Been testing every two days or so using API Freshwater Master Test Kit.
And I've been changing the water, maybe 20% or so, or been topping off the tank to compensate for evaporation every 3 to 4 days.
PH check - GOOD.
NITRITE TEST - 0 ppm
NITRATE TEST - 0 ppm
AMMONIA - INCONCLUSIVE.
Followed directions to the letter. Ammonia test shows 0.50 ppm or so more than 10 minutes after testing. But when I leave the test vial sitting overnight, the level rises to 8.0 ppm.
Is this supposed to happen?
Are the test results only good after 5 minutes or so as per the brochure? Does the color change over time giving off a false, high level result? Is that it?
Didn't have the patience to properly cycle the tank, because of my 4 year old boy who was going nuts for fish.
Started with 3 tiny Harlequin rasbora after running the tank for a week with chemical treatments using API Quick Start. Fast forward three weeks. The fish are doing OK.
I'm on the full suite of chemicals from API: Quick Start, Stress Zyme, Stress Coat, and Ammo Lock. Been testing every two days or so using API Freshwater Master Test Kit.
And I've been changing the water, maybe 20% or so, or been topping off the tank to compensate for evaporation every 3 to 4 days.
PH check - GOOD.
NITRITE TEST - 0 ppm
NITRATE TEST - 0 ppm
AMMONIA - INCONCLUSIVE.
Followed directions to the letter. Ammonia test shows 0.50 ppm or so more than 10 minutes after testing. But when I leave the test vial sitting overnight, the level rises to 8.0 ppm.
Is this supposed to happen?
Are the test results only good after 5 minutes or so as per the brochure? Does the color change over time giving off a false, high level result? Is that it?