Nitrite test oddities?

[DrgRcr]

Sorry for the confusion shawn. I have been testing my tank parameters every day, and that is what I've been asking about.

As far as the tap water, I have tested it 2 or 3 times over the course of my cycle just to see if things remained the same being that I have a well. That is why when I saw nitrite on a test the other day, it threw me off. But I found my error and posted that above. I've only done this so I know that my parameters will remain steady during water changes.

Back to the tank, and todays AM numbers showed .25-.5 nitrite and 10ppm nitrate. I redosed ammonia to 2-3ppm and I am going to check again in 12 hrs. I'm starting to get a little frustrated with the whole thing, but I'm trying to be patient.

 

[shawnhu]

you're down to .25-.5 nitrites already? That should have increased your Nitrate level. Do you have plants in the tank that is taking up the nitrate? You are not performing water changes are you?

 

[Rbishop]

Water changes are not required on a fishless cycle but won't hurt..just throws your reference off..

I would dose higher, once a day......

 

[DrgRcr]

I don't have plants and I also have not changed any water, not seeing the need to. The cycle seemed to be going right to the letter from what I've read. Ammonia went away and nitrite peaked, then nitrate showed up. This is where I've been at. What is odd to me is that when reading the fishless cycle primer, it says that if you are using the API tests like I am, that when you test for nitrite and the drops turn purple in the bottom of the tube before mixing, they are high off the chart and will turn green which has no value on the card. But if you do go and mix it and wait the 5 minutes, the result for me comes up with that .25-.5 color. It does turn a faded green after 5 minutes. And believe me I timed it to 5 minutes exact!