JackieN

Hi again..I have what might seem like a silly question. I'm still in the nitrite cycle..my question is this..do you folks hold the test tube against the white section, ie: lay it right on the white section to read it, or just hold it in front of the white section.
See, when I hold it out but in front of the white section, it's lighter in color, against the white section, it's deeper in color..and I'm not sure which is the correct reading. One way, it's .50, the other way, it's 1.0.
Another question, someone mentioned it might slow up my cycling if I keep doing 30 to 50% water changes every day. It's been almost 4 weeks and I'm sooooooo tired of slopping water all over the place..but I'll keep doing it IF it doesn't slow up my cycling.
Jackie (Thank you)

Butterfly

My instructions say to lay the tube against the card beside the color stripes. Yes doing the water changes will slow the cycle down a bit, but if you have fish in the cycling tank you have to do the water changes to keep the levels from becoming toxic to your fish.
Carol

JackieN

(Big Sigh) Ok, thanks Carol..I figured it was lay it against the white part..but hope springs infernal..LOL. I'm off to do more water changes.
Jackie

Butterfly

Yep Jackie we've all had to pay our dues but the fish pay us back over and over
Carol

JackieN

True Carol..and I AM trying to keep my fish alive..since it was my mistake that put them in this position. I just can't wait till that mornig I get up, test my nitrites..and see that they have gone down a bit..OH HAPPY DAY!!! LOL
Jackie

Butterfly

Just hang in there When I first started fish keeping I didn't know about fishless cycling and as a result lost a few fish. The LFS even said, "you may lose a few fish" Didn't know about testting the water either and over the years have learned better. Alot of us older fish keepers started out this way so thats why we try to pass the word along that there is a better way.
Carol

JackieN

G'morning Carol..thanks for all your support. I do have one more question..am I correct in thinking my nitrite readings will start to go down..rather than one morning..wham..they're at 0? I think if that is the case, they may have come down a bit..but I could be wrong. I have a betta tank also, the betta died..long story...and yesterday, I tested it after not testing for a few days..and the nitrites were at 0, before this..they were at 1.0 or higher..so I think this tank is cycling and almost done..but I had no nitrate readings yet..it is fishless at this point. And my large tank, is the one I've been asking about..the readings seemed a bit lower, not much but a little lower..could this be the beginning..or will I just wake up one morning..and have 0 nitrites?
Thanks for you help.. Jackie

Tumbleweed

When your tank is cycling your ammonia reading will go up, then after some time it will strat to decrease and as it decreases the the Nitrite level will go up the Ammonia will go to 0 shortly after. Your nitirte level will then start to decrease and the Nitrate level will increase. Your Nitrite will then go to 0 shortly after. Then your Nitrate level will start to go down, and will get between 0-10 depending on wether or not there is fish in the tank. Once this hapens the tank should be cycled.

JackieN

Thanks again Carol...I just have nitrites at the moment..no Ammonia..so I guess I will just have to wait till it starts or ends..or something inbetween.. LOL Jackie

Butterfly

Yep the Nitrites will gradually go down until you don't have any but you will have Nitrates. Then your tank is cycled.
Carol