Strange readings or normal test

[mdel747]

my tank has been running a month now ,

i went threw the high ammonia then the nitrite spike and very small rise in nitrate

test today is

0 nitrite ( Down from week of spikes )
0+ nitrate ( in between 0- first color )
0 + ammonia ( barely a change from yellow )

so is it over cycling and shouldn't i have higher readings of nitrate
im on a well i don't know if that changes things ,

[Blueiz]

Is your tank planted? You shoiuld have a higher nitrate reading. What type of test kit are you using and did you follow the instructions carefully?

[mdel747]

no plants I'm using new api from Doc's master kit and i try and fallow instructions carefully , i even set a timer for the 5 min
i use prime on WC could that be part of it ,, for the low readings

[Blueiz]

how much of a water change did you do before you tested?

[mdel747]

i did 50% wc 2 days ago . as nitrites were high

[Blueiz]

Ok, it sounds as tho you are right at being finished with cycling, if not completely. Do you have fish in the tank already? If so, keep testing every day or so and see what you come up with.

[jpappy789]

The nitrate test is the easiest to make a mistake on. I would try again and follow the instructions very carefully.

[mdel747]

i can do that i make sure i shake #2 1 min before hand on nitrate test then wait the 5 min , really i shake all of the bottles a little , but i will re test and put them back up for you

[jpappy789]

What was the nitrate reading before the water change?

When did you stop dosing the ammonia?

[mdel747]

nitrate about the same before but the nitrite was high

and stop dosing if you mean prime it was with the WC , 2 days ago
it was fish cycle

[jpappy789]

I'm confused...did you have nitrate before the water change at all?

How were you cycling?

[mdel747]

nitrate was in between 0-5pmm closer to 5pmm before last WC , i checked it today and all is looking good , nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm ammonia 0
i was doing everyday wc to help the stress stay low on the fish in the tank ,
i should be able to do wc once pr week now ,or as test indicates ,,
i will test every other day now for a bit just to make sure it don't change ,

now new question , i should be able to take out the hang on filter (aqueon-55 ) and just use the marineland c360 alone right ? as they both have been running since the start

[Blueiz]

You can take it off, but remember , it holds part of your beneficial bateria. It may cause a mini cycle. Can you take the filte media from it and put in your other filter? If not and you still want to take it off, go ahead, just be prepared for a spike of parameters for a day or 2, maybe longer.

[mdel747]

ok thanks blue

here the pic

[Blueiz]

Very nice! Love the coloration of the fish. :)

[mdel747]

what i think is the female in back of male i think

[Blueiz]

You are correct, the female is in the back of the pic, or the top of the pic depending on which way you look at it and the male is at the front of the pic, or the bottom of the pic depending on which way you look at it..:)