shih-tzu mom

Well, i don't know if this is right or where i am at. lol 2-questions here are my readings after 2-1/2 weeks ammonia-4.0 nitritates5.0 nitrate-1.0 so please explain what they are-as i never took chemistry and a little hard to do. and the one bottle of-nitritate has only one bottle?? and do you mix that with the nitrates or seperatly[sp]?? i did [sep] and i also added some rock and live plants from one of my betta tanks lol is this good or bad?40-gallons and 80% heat, lots of air and filtration lol- now adding 15-drops to tank daily-started with 20-drops. bella

Lucy

Waht test kit are you using?

Are there fish in this tank? 4.0 ammonia and 5.0 nitrites are extremly toxic.

You're adding 15 drops of what to what?

shih-tzu mom

Lucy;- no fish, lol adding ammonia and API test kit. lol but i have a seperate API for nit; and nitrates and it says to mix together and both are API lol bella

fishlover78

hmm, I have never heard of mixing the nitrItes and NitrAte tests? sorry bells I can't help you here

Dozey

The nitrite test only consists of one bottle. The nitrate test consists of two bottles. For testing nitrites you add 5 drops of the nitrite chemical. To test for nitrates in a separate test tube use 10 drops of bottle one. Shake bottle 2 for 30 seconds and then add 10 drops of bottle two. Shake test tube for 1 minute and check your readings 5 minutes later.

Lucy

Whew really glad there's no fish it the tank

I've got the API master kit but I'm assuming they're similar even if you buy them seperate. Maybe someone who has bought the tests seperately would know better.
What do the directions say?

There should be 2 nitrate bottles those are mixed together.
You're not supposed to mix the nitrIte and the nitrAte bottles.

10 drops of #1 nitrate mix it....make sure you shake bang to break up the crystals and add 10 drops of the #2 nitrAte bottle....then shake for a full minute.

Edit: Dozey..that #2 nitrate bottle is tricky..it's not a full liquid like the other bottles. It contains crystals that really need to be banged around to get it mixed right otherwise you'll get a false nitrate reading.

CHoffman

The nitrite you add 5 drops and nothing else...The Nitrate you have to use both the bottles..Nitrate bottle #1 first, then Nitrate bottle #2. Just like the ammonia. How long after adding ammonia did you test bella??

pinkfloydpuffer

I bought them seperately. The directions are the same. 1 bottle for nitrite tests, 2 bottles for seperate nitrate test.

shih-tzu mom

Choffman; i tested about an hour after adding ammonia; too soon lol bella

Dozey

To address your readings, ammonia 4ppm, nitrites 5ppm and nitrates 1ppm indicates that you close to being cycled.

The readings indicate that both types of bacteria are establishing in your tank as you have nitrates. I believe at this time you should cut back the amount of ammonia you adding each day to bring the ammonia level up to 2ppm. Check the water readings 12 hours later. When the bacteria can process the 2ppm of ammonia and any nitrites in 12 hours you are cycled. If you still have ammonia and nitrite reading after 12 hours add ammonia the next day again to bring the level to 2ppm.

Continue doing so until your tank your tank can process all ammonia and nitrite in a 12 hour period.

So after adding ammonia you check you reading 12 hours later and the results are ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates will likely be 5 to 20. When this happens you are cycled. Do a full water change and add fish.

shih-tzu mom

Okozey;Lucy;Choffman and Pink-the API other test i had that was seperate was just ammonia; so that's gone and settled. So let me see if this is right the ammonia i add together bottle 1-2 and the nitrate bottle 1-2 i add together and the nitrite 1-bottle lol hope this is right bella

Dozey

I think you've got it.

shih-tzu mom

Boy Dozey-i sure hope so as i am trying something a little diff; to see if it works- which is adding more ammonia then required to start with and then reducing by 5-at 1-week interval's lol so we will see as it is early to be almost cycled; and i have added nothing except more water as the heat takes the tanks down at least 3-4 inches per 1-2-days lol and in one tank i am not using a heater to cycle so we will see which one cycle's the fastest bella

Dozey

Well if what we know about cycling stands true then in theory the heated tank should cycle quicker. But I like to experiment too.

FishJones

Dozey seems like the Professor from Gilligan's Island type and I'm banking on him to come up with a new method to more easily read levels.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; i also think the heated tank will be first lol and their has been some suggestions about adding stability along with the ammonia just to kick start it a little faster? Your thought's lol p.s. i have added the pantyhose stuff and some rock from cycled betta tank, live plants lol bella

shih-tzu mom

Sorry; Dozey;brian dead kicking in again-also suggested that API-Stress-Zyme will also kick start-Your thoughts lol bella

Dozey

These are two quotes from API…

“Stress Zyme is a biological filter additive containing live bacteria that improves the development of the biological filter” AND “Contains over 300 million live bacteria per teaspoonful. Breaks down organic compounds that cause dangerous conditions such as ammonia and nitrite poisoning and low oxygen levels. Continuous use assures an active biological filter, cleaner aquarium, healthier fish and good water quality”.

I don’t know the right answer, but my first impression would be that this is one of those products that once you start using it you are stuck with using it. My impression is that it is not adding a self sustaining bacteria.

shih-tzu mom

Yes, Dozey the stats on the stress-zyme appeared so but the stability looks more promising lol but i don't think i will add just now but maybe 1-of the 20-gallons just to kick start lol bella

Lucy

I wrote to the company about Stess Zyme a while back. Let me see if I can find the thread about their reply.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; i was wondering is adding Stability along with the ammonis would it not work-as in not having to add on a regular bases after it is cycled? The stability only has to be added 7-days so would not the cycle kick in and take over the bacteria? bella

Lucy

It's not much help but here's the thread:

Stress Zyme

Dozey

It did help and reinforces what I suspected that this is not a self sustaining bacteria. My thoughts are it just might prolong the cycle process. By starving natural occurring bacteria growth for the first seven days would in my opinion only prolong the natural bacteria growth my at least that long. Just my thoughts though.

Lucy

That's how I feel.
Might as well just cycle the tank without buying expensive products.
I still have a full bottle what was sold to me when I first started tropical fish.

shih-tzu mom

I would think the live bacteria has to do something to the tank-but what, lol and while you are cycling the ammonia old way wouldn't it kick in to do something lol. Not saying it would cycle your tank lol But would it not have some benifits anyone thoughts please or opinions lol bella

Lucy

If a product contains the wrong kind of bacteria it'll most likely use the ammonia and starve the beneficial bacteria your tank is trying to develop.

shih-tzu mom

But-Lucy who say's it's the wrong bacteria? bella

Dozey

My thoughts are if you use this product for seven days and are suppose to add it weekly, for the first seven days the only bacteria you will have in the tank will be non-sustainable bacteria, it would be suggested by the weekly treatments required that it would take another 7 days for this non-beneficial bacteria to die off. And it would not be until this time that beneficial self sustaining bacteria would have a chance to begin growing.

Dozey

If it was self sustaining bacteria the product's instructions would not advise you to continue adding this product weekly.

Lucy

Thanks for explaining it so well, Dozey.

Bella, if Stress Zyme contained the correct bacteria, wouldn't they have said just that in their response to my inquiry?