This is getting a little frustrating :censor: Some history for those that have not read about my woes before: I have had my 20 gallon tank set up since the beginning of March. I started my fishless cycle on March 11th. I could dose my tank to 4ppm of ammonia, but it would never go below 2ppm. I started testing for nitrItes and nitrAtes on March 27th. Occasionally I would see a TINY bit of nitrItes (so I thought) - 0.25ppm at most, but now I wonder if it was just a trick of the eye or wishful thinking. On April 1st (how appropriate!) I started seeing nitrAtes, but still no nitrItes (the API test is a clear blue). During this time, I did get a sample from our tank at work just to check my test and make sure nothing was wrong about my test procedure. That tank tested just as I thought it would. Today I still have no nitrItes, but nitrAtes are between 5-10ppm.
How can I have nitrAtes without nitrItes? Did I somehow miss my nitrIte spike? The ammonia still does not get "eaten up" very quickly in my tank and I have been doing pwcs to control the nitrAtes.
This makes me worry that something is wrong with my tap water. I live in Marion, Iowa (not known for good drinking water) - I just bought my house in July last year and it already had a water softener. From what I understand, this should not be a problem. There is also a filter under my kitchen sink (installed by a previous home owner) - not sure on the kind, but could find out. Should this be an issue? I get my water from the kitchen tap as it is the easiest.
Also, I am thinking of going to work today to get some gravel to use as seed. I did not do the previously as one of the fish had Ich, but that was a few weeks ago and the tank and fish are fine now. Would this be ok?
Sorry for the long post...
How can I have nitrAtes without nitrItes? Did I somehow miss my nitrIte spike? The ammonia still does not get "eaten up" very quickly in my tank and I have been doing pwcs to control the nitrAtes.
This makes me worry that something is wrong with my tap water. I live in Marion, Iowa (not known for good drinking water) - I just bought my house in July last year and it already had a water softener. From what I understand, this should not be a problem. There is also a filter under my kitchen sink (installed by a previous home owner) - not sure on the kind, but could find out. Should this be an issue? I get my water from the kitchen tap as it is the easiest.
Also, I am thinking of going to work today to get some gravel to use as seed. I did not do the previously as one of the fish had Ich, but that was a few weeks ago and the tank and fish are fine now. Would this be ok?
Sorry for the long post...