pinkfloydpuffer

So, I've started cycling my 80g tank at 1.014 SG. I can't figure out if I should use the saltwater or freshwater test. By freshwater standards I put in way too much ammonia, at least 8ppm, but by saltwater standards I'm at about 4ppm. I'm so confused. Which one should I go by?

Angela_96

Actualy the ammonia test is the same for the SW and the FW just the color chart is different, it will make the water in the tube "cloudy" but its accurate. I use my fw test for the sw, and bought a reef kit for phosphate, calcium, hardness.

Here is a link for all the color charts:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D2%26hl%3Den

Peterpiper

Check how much water you need for salt and for fresh.
Think you need 10ml for 1 and 5ml for the other

pinkfloydpuffer

Yeah, I knew they were the same, just different charts... but I don't know which chart to use, since one says 8+PPM and the other 4ppm ammonia.

Peterpiper

Its salt water not fresh, so use the salty.
The salt will precipitate in the test tube giving a slightly darker colour.
And your just cycling so + or - 1ppm wont really make a difference

pinkfloydpuffer

How about + or - 4ppm?

Peterpiper

If your going to use the 2 charts the split the readings gives you 6ppm, so your + or - 2ppm

Looking at the chart ( salty ) you have 4ppm

pinkfloydpuffer

lol

Eh, 4 ppm is fine. It's going to be an 80g for two 2" fish... so yeah...

Peterpiper

Drop it down to 2ppm, no need to make the cycle take longer than needed.
And I know that 2 puffers in a 80g would not get the ammonia up to 2 in less than 4-5 days. So once the bacteria is using 2 ppm in 12 hrs and you have no nitrites at the same time you would be good to go. This would save you a week at least.

pinkfloydpuffer

Ooh, thanks. I'll just not add any ammonia for a while until it drops down.