octopuscats
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
- Messages
- 12
I'm mostly wondering where to go from here. I set up my tank about three or four weeks ago and have been doing fishless cycling. Unfortunately I haven't been around very much lately, so I haven't been able to stay on top of my readings like I should have. Here's a sample of what they've looked like the last few days, so I can get some proper advice:
Nov 26
NH3 - ~0.16ppm
PH - 7.8?
Nitrite 1.6
Nitrate 50
Nov 27
Readings were too high, did a water change and forgot to retest the levels afterwards
Dec 1
PH 8.0
NH3 2.4ppm
Nitrite 3.3/off chart
Nitrate 110/off chart
After 1st water change:
PH 8.0
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite 1.6
Nitrate 50
After 2nd water change:
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite 0.8
Nitrate 20
Dec 2
PH 8.0
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite ~3.3?
Nitrate 50
I'm just not really sure what I should be doing past this point. It seems like my ammonia is very stable if not lowering (it's hard to tell at this point because it's on the low end of the colour chart), but my nitrites/nitrates keep soaring. Should I leave the tank alone and see if the nitrites eventually disappear, or should I keep doing water changes to regulate the nitr(i/a)te levels? I'm getting a bit impatient by now and would love some fish in my tank
Edit: Additional information that might be useful - It's a 5.5G tank kept at a steady temperature of 25C/77F. I did have a handful of plants in there (Moneywort and wisteria), but unfortunately the built-in light in my tank isn't strong enough and they've been slowly dying. I will definitely get a stronger light once the whole desk gets organized, but is it possible that's contributing to my ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels?
Nov 26
NH3 - ~0.16ppm
PH - 7.8?
Nitrite 1.6
Nitrate 50
Nov 27
Readings were too high, did a water change and forgot to retest the levels afterwards
Dec 1
PH 8.0
NH3 2.4ppm
Nitrite 3.3/off chart
Nitrate 110/off chart
After 1st water change:
PH 8.0
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite 1.6
Nitrate 50
After 2nd water change:
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite 0.8
Nitrate 20
Dec 2
PH 8.0
NH3 <0.06ppm
Nitrite ~3.3?
Nitrate 50
I'm just not really sure what I should be doing past this point. It seems like my ammonia is very stable if not lowering (it's hard to tell at this point because it's on the low end of the colour chart), but my nitrites/nitrates keep soaring. Should I leave the tank alone and see if the nitrites eventually disappear, or should I keep doing water changes to regulate the nitr(i/a)te levels? I'm getting a bit impatient by now and would love some fish in my tank
Edit: Additional information that might be useful - It's a 5.5G tank kept at a steady temperature of 25C/77F. I did have a handful of plants in there (Moneywort and wisteria), but unfortunately the built-in light in my tank isn't strong enough and they've been slowly dying. I will definitely get a stronger light once the whole desk gets organized, but is it possible that's contributing to my ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels?