View Full Version : Cycling
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 7:13 AM
I have have just started to cycle my 20g tank. I have added 30ml of ammoina but it does not show up on my test kit that shows it in mg/l.
Day 1: NH3=0mg/l Water Conditioner added
Day 2: PH 8 No2=0mg/l Nh3=0mg/l 2 ml of Bio-support added
Day 2: MH3=0 mg/l 3ml ammoina added
happychem
11-01-2004, 7:46 AM
what does NO3 read?
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 7:52 AM
As in nitrate? So far I have no tests for that.
happychem
11-01-2004, 8:21 AM
Get one, in the long term it's more important that NH3 or NO2.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 8:47 AM
When ever I get a chance I will go out to the LFS and get the test. What are the chances of having any at this stage of the game?
happychem
11-01-2004, 11:49 AM
Slim to none, but the NH3's gotta go somewhere, maybe you got lucky and somehow had a good dose of nitrifiers at the start.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 11:55 AM
The bio-support could of done something.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 12:08 PM
I have just did a ammoina test with my Tetra test kit. I put in half aquarium water and half ammoina. The thing still said there was zero ammoina! This could be the problem.
happychem
11-01-2004, 2:34 PM
Yup! That should be way off scale! Try taking a sample of your tank water to your lfs to be tested.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 2:40 PM
That could be why it was $10 off the kit.
happychem
11-01-2004, 3:02 PM
Must've been a pretty cheap buy at $10 off!
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 3:14 PM
Still $20.00 I have done another test this time with just ammoina, and it showed .25 at most.(More likely 0)
Analog Saint
11-01-2004, 3:31 PM
PPM stands for parts per million- in essence, 1 (unit) solute per 999,999 (units) solvent. Two tablespoons of ammonia sends my 25g tank up to 4 PPM. I use Sea Mist Ammonia which I found at Wal-Mart in the cleaning supplies section. Hope this helps.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 3:55 PM
So I guess my test kit is dead.
happychem
11-01-2004, 4:58 PM
Looks that way, but before you toss it, bring a sample to your lfs for testing, it's always good to get a second opinion.
Kasakato
11-01-2004, 7:14 PM
I have returned that kit and bought the test strips.
happychem
11-02-2004, 7:10 AM
and? what do the test strips show?
Kasakato
11-02-2004, 3:21 PM
5 ppm! of ammoina
and 0 of everything else
happychem
11-02-2004, 3:24 PM
Excellent, looks like you've got it under control now. That's about what you would expect in the first couple days.