parrotheadX5

Going to move my lenghty posts/threads back to here from the cichlids area (parrot fish color thread). I added Prime yesterday after doing a significant water change.

Yesterday before the water change, readings were ammonia~ .25 nitrite~ .25 and nitrate~ 5.0

I was going to do a water change this morning but tested first. Ammonia, nitrate and nitrites are all at 0.

I'm confused, am I over the mini cycle or back to square one again with an uncycled tank?

Shawnie

is the tank planted?

parrotheadX5

Hi Shawnie, it's the same bowfront tank I've had trouble with. It has the silk plants, not real ones.

Shawnie

if you really did that banging with the #2 bottle of nitrates, and still get a 0 reading, you may be starting over because as you know you should have some nitrates to have a complete cycle

agabr123

how much of a water change did you do? you may be getting low readings because of that, i would test again tomorrow and make sure that you really bang the #2 nitrate bottle

parrotheadX5

I am making sure I bang the crud out of the nitrate #2 bottle each time I test. Yesterday morning I started out with:
Ammonia~ .25 Nitrite~ .25 and Nitrate~ 5.0

I did a test last night (no water change yesterday, I held off...).
Last night's parameter readings were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5.0 nitrates.

Just now this morning, parameter readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5.0 nitrates.....

haedra

I vote they make a better nitrate test kit. They require more precision than humanly possible.

parrotheadX5

I totally agree and was thinking just that when I posted this morning. These chemicals are all new. I'm hoping this means I'm finally cycling.

agabr123

sounds like you're cycled, but i'd keep a close eye on the readings for the next week or so.

parrotheadX5

I can only hope......