FINALLY found a test kit locally! My numbers are...

staceyanna

staceyanna

Praise is what I do...
Sep 6, 2005
103
0
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Miami -> Wash, DC
FINALLY found a test kit! My tank test results...

Okay I FINALLY got a test kit! I had to drive 20 miles to the next nearest Petsmart, but I finally got it. My numbers are as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 5-10ppm
PH: 7

Is this mean my tank is cycled? I got the Master Test Kit that had 8 bottles and 4 test tubes and did it all this morning...

My tank gets water changes with Prime and thats it. When I set up the tank I put in these fizzy tabs (they are made by Jungle Labs) called Start Right. That was only 3 weeks ago, could my tank be almost done cycling though?

My water is still cloudier then EVER now, and the brown algae is still running rampant on the gravel and rocks in the tank as well. But no algae on the glass and the fish don't seem to be in distress at all.
 
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Congratulations!!! Your numbers look good. The cloudiness should clear on its own in time but you could add some charcoal to help things along.
 
Hurrah. Get stocking. (SLOWLY!)
For algae - try to make sure your nitrates stay down - and keep doing water changes regularly. If you fancy it - the introduction of live plants to compete with the algae can sometimes help - but you'll need to be careful you stick with low light condition plants - otherwise you'll be in a world of CO2 and lighting that might be a little too much when you're just starting (I'm only just beginning to get the hang of it now - after 3 years).

Have fun!
R
 
WOW, I dont know where this thread went but here is an update!

Numbers still holding steady, had my PH go up a notch though... My new numbers (as of last night) are as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 5ppm
PH: 7.4

Also started a blackout last night cause I did another water change which made me at least see to the back of the tank but the water is still cloudy green. I noticed it ALOT when looking in the bucket I did the water change in. So tank was blacked out last night and waiting til Wednesday to check up on it again. I used 3-4 towels, I hope they keep enough of the light out as this tank is in a living room, but it isnt near any windows but we do watchh TV and turn on lights in there. Hopefully a 3 day blackout will clear up this algae bloom! Its been 2 weeks of not being able to see my fish and I am fed up at this point.
 
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hmmmm.... with an algae bloom, I never even thought to completely cover the tank with towels. I believed only the lights out for a few days would do the trick, and always did in my situation. Is your tank in front of the window? Make sure you don't cover the filter with those towels.

Congrats on your completed cycle, staceyanna!! For me, it seemed like the cycle was lasting forever but once it hits that point of cycle, it's like *BAM* you're there :D
 
Thanks for the congrats! Wow, I covered the filters, both of them since they are both self-contained. When I went home an hour ago they were fine and they have been covered since last night. I can uncover the filters but if I uncover the filters then light will surely show through and defeat the whole process. I bought an Emperor 280 over the weekend and its is WHOOSHING the water down into the tank like crazy even on the lowest setting! The fish are having fun swimming through it... hehehe I left the old whisper up even though only drops come out of it at a time. Especially since my cycle seems to be at its end.

I only blacked out with towels because dumb as it sounds, I dont even OWN any blankets! I moved to DC from Miami and in Miami our winters never go below 60 degrees and even then thats rare! So I only have sheets and since our living room lights are fairly bright it would show through if I didnt use something heavier. Tank is on a stand in between my foyer and living room, so our lights are on both sides.
 
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