checking in on my cycling

[cathy]

hi all, I had a post on here a while back and you all were very helpful. So here I go again. If Brian H is around, could he join this fray?
I have a 46 gal tank with 40 lbs live rock and 2 damsels and some snails. The growth on the rocks is good, have had some algal bloom, but not excessive. I am very happy with everything but do have one concern.
We are now at the 4 weeks point of our cycling. The ammonia rose to 0.5 after adding fish and rock, and has not budged since!!! Brian, you had said that there may have been enough bacteria added with the rock, that I might never see nitrites develop, but that eventually I could expect to see the ammonia drop to zero, and see some nitrates develop. Nitrite and Nitrate readings continue to be zero. So, do I just keep on being patient, and wait a few more weeks? Or should I consider something else?
I am in no hurry to make additions; because of a family trip was purposefully postponing any additions till after July 4rth. But, might consider a hermit crab or two to help with housekeeping if the ammonia dropped! (Was advised to wait for that before adding the crabs.)

 

[BrianH]

Cathy,

Yes, I would still wait it out between 2 - 4 weeks. Your bacteria is still growing to handle the ammonia load of the 2 fish. If you don't see the ammonia at 0 after 4 weeks, take a water sample to your lfs to double check your test kits.

Brian

 

[cathy]

thanks, just waiting was my gut instinct, but didn't want to overlook anything.
Your response did bring another question to mind though. There are 3 stores in the area that have marine stuff, and all three seem to have at least one knowledgeable staff person. One of the three expressed negative opinions about the "master kits" that are commonly sold. These contain solutions to test for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. She said these are often bad kits because the maker does not put an outdate on them. And lo and behold, my kit has no outdate. So after discovering this, I took a sample of water into the dealer from which we had bought most of our supplies, and he checked the readings not with another master kit, but with some dip sticks, and our readings for all 4 parameters matched. (I looked at the strips myself) In your experience, have you run into "bad" kits, and do you have an opinion on which type of kits are more accurate.

 

[BrianH]

I do not use any of the master test kits so I can not comment on first hand knowledge. I do know that test kits may give inaccurate results after they have become too old. I use mainly salifert and sometimes hagen test kits. The salifert are a little pricey so you may want to try something else. Also, I've never heard any good things about the test strips your lfs used. I'm sure they will stand behind them but I like the normal test kits myself.

Brian