Hi all,
My 32g tank's been cycling for about 4 weeks now, and this was my last set of readings;NH4 = 5ppm / NO2 = 0.05ppm / NO3 = 40ppm / pH 4.5 / KH 5 / GH 4. I'm using a full chemical test set, not strips and being uber careful of my tests and readings.
Finding it strange that my nitrAtes seem to be at a "good" level, but the ammonia is still is high and nitrItes are virtually gone. NH4 seems steady, Ites disappeared from one test to the next and Ates steadily climbed. My pH has dropped steadily (from 6.5 to 4.5) over the month, but I'm assuming that's due to decorative vine roots leeching into the water?
The tank's quite heavily planted with cabomba, water primrose, anacharis, wisteria & DHG, and around 2w/g lighting. Am I missing something here with the readings? They seem to be all over the place and the cycle doesn't appear very cyclical !!! I've got a CO2 injector on order but am now wondering whether to delay it until I get these basics sorted out.
All help greatly appreciated.
My 32g tank's been cycling for about 4 weeks now, and this was my last set of readings;NH4 = 5ppm / NO2 = 0.05ppm / NO3 = 40ppm / pH 4.5 / KH 5 / GH 4. I'm using a full chemical test set, not strips and being uber careful of my tests and readings.
Finding it strange that my nitrAtes seem to be at a "good" level, but the ammonia is still is high and nitrItes are virtually gone. NH4 seems steady, Ites disappeared from one test to the next and Ates steadily climbed. My pH has dropped steadily (from 6.5 to 4.5) over the month, but I'm assuming that's due to decorative vine roots leeching into the water?
The tank's quite heavily planted with cabomba, water primrose, anacharis, wisteria & DHG, and around 2w/g lighting. Am I missing something here with the readings? They seem to be all over the place and the cycle doesn't appear very cyclical !!! I've got a CO2 injector on order but am now wondering whether to delay it until I get these basics sorted out.
All help greatly appreciated.