False positive? Ridiculous ammonia readings!

I have heard that ammonia neutralizing agents create a problem with safe start but I have yet to experience that problem. In a previous I talked with someone about it and, while I may be wrong, I came to the conclusion that it may reduce the effectiveness but I think it's the company covering its behind. I used triple doses of prime when I used my safe start and still finished my cycle around 4-6 days later.

So what I'm getting at is definitely keep up on the maintenance but don't be surprised if that safe start did have an effect
 
While reading these last 2 posts, I realized I made a mistake when listing what I used. I was actually using Aquasafe plus, not TSS. My apologies. I never use any bacteria additives in my tank....not for a while. I was using the Aquasafe as my water conditioner, and was pleased with the way things were working. One of the main reasons I am switching is the I accuracy of the testing. The consensus is that Prime is the best thing to use. It also will work with the tests, or at least better than other products out there. The hobby is not fun when you are freaking out because you test your water and it tests positive when it's really not. Oh well, research, trial and error and communicating with fellow hobbyists on a regular basis will get me there. I can't wait to get everything back to normal so I can continue stocking!


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Well guys......been a few days. I've switched to Prime, still doing water changes. Water is now clear and the tank is looking much better. I picked up API Master Kit and do some tests yesterday. Nitrites and trates are through the roof still! I just don't get this at all. My fish are acting normal, no red eyes or gills, not swimming at the surface and no lethargic behavior. What the bleep is going on?! I would think that 20% water changes daily would make some difference. It has been well over a week.....my fish would all be dead with these readings. I've been doing tons of research, and can't find anything that would explain this mystery. Soooooooooooooooo frustrating!


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Prime protects the fish from a good portion of the nitrites. That's why everyone says to use it...not all water conditioners do. That's why your fish are fine. Keep doing what you're doing with the water changes to control the nitrates and don't panic :) Sounds to me like a cycle finishing up.
 
Thanks for the reassuring words, maiadee. I really don't understand why my tank went into this cycle, but I guess I just have to be patient and deal with it.


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I'll just throw this out there. When I started I'd get readings for ammonia that didn't make sense. After alot of troubleshooting it turned out that I wasn't cleaning the little test tube well enough, so I guess make sure you scrub them out real well. - N
 
Thanks for the suggestion Nereus7. It turns out I somehow ended up in a mini cycle. There was definitely ammonia, the amounts were off though. I ended up getting this stuff called Fritz-zyme, on a recommendation yesterday. My readings were total ammonia 0, nitrites were at 5 (yikes), nitrates between 0 and 5. I added the Fritz, and this morning I am 0's across the board! That stuff works. Yes, I was at the tail end of the cycle, but that drop in a day is great. I will definitely use again of the need arises.


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0 across the board is no good. Once a tank has properly cycled and completed, you should ideally have 0,0,20. Please stop using additives other than the Prime! You will be forever chasing your tail and help offered by us can backfire. You need to learn that shortcuts and hurryup cycling can cause a real fiasco as you are experiencing.

Water-changes are your best friend. Doing weekly water changes of 30% or greater go a long way to create a healthy tank.
 
Appreciate the comments! I know I need the nitrates up.....what's the best way to do that? And I normally don't use anything besides Prime and less than recommended doses of liquid ferts for my plants. I just freaked this time around with the unexpected spike in ammonia. I did tons of research on that fritz stuff, and I would only use it again if there was an emergency like this one. I wouldn't use it to cycle a tank.....I'm smart enough to know that that needs to be done the right way.


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i would stop dosing ferts while you are sorting out your tank parameters, and stop using anything but Prime. too much stuff going into the tank can create for too many variables when you are trying to resolve a problem. IMO there are absolutely no shortcuts when it comes to cycling a tank properly.

just use Prime, at 5x the normal dose, and do daily water changes of 50%, along with gravel vacuuming. this should help your tank immensely. keep testing daily for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. if using the API test kit - follow the test instructions to the letter, and remember to shake the heck out of the nitrate #2 bottle for at 30 seconds, and then shake the heck out of the nitrate test tube for a minute after putting in your 10 drops from nitrate bottle #2. not following the test instructions is the biggest factor in false readings. remember to wait 5 minutes after you finish doing your test tubes to get the proper results.

there is no way for you to get the nitrates up. your cycle does that. fish poop turns into ammonia, then one type of bacteria turn that ammonia into nitrite. another type of bacteria comes along and turns that nitrite into nitrate.
 
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