20 Gallon Tank Fish-In Cycling - Confused about water test :^\

Hey guys,

I’m a little confused about my water test today. according to the master test chart it reads

PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

The past couple of tests I’ve done have read Ammonia 0.25 ppm and now it’s reading 0 ppm? Something doesn’t seem right to me. I am planning on doing a 25% water change today.



Oh I forgot to mention I started the fish-in cycle 3 weeks ago.

 

Would suggest to do a high range ph test too. Also Nitrate testing is tricky on API, do perform the test as mentioned in the booklet. You need to shake the Nitrate solution a lot prior testing. Do you have plants too in the tank? What size is the tank? In the past 3 weeks did you ever receive a nitrate reading?

 

Yeah, what Lordofwar said. I thought I read the directions carefully, but I didn't "understand" them. When testing nitrates it is imperative to do it exactly as written including shaking the Nitrate bottle #2 for 30 seconds, dosing and shaking the test tube vigoursly for 60 seconds. I got zero nitrates for a while, now I'm reading between 10-20: I can't tell the colors look the same to me. You want your ammonia and nitrites to be zero. What kind of fish? What pH parameters do they like? what is the temp.?

 

Before dropping in the nitrate solution I shook the bottle hard for 30 seconds and then shook the test tube for 1 whole minute.

I don’t have any real plants, only fake.
I have a 20 gallon tank and I have not seen a nitrate reading since starting the tank.

Yeah, what Lordofwar said. I thought I read the directions carefully, but I didn't "understand" them. When testing nitrates it is imperative to do it exactly as written including shaking the Nitrate bottle #2 for 30 seconds, dosing and shaking the test tube vigoursly for 60 seconds. I got zero nitrates for a while, now I'm reading between 10-20: I can't tell the colors look the same to me. You want your ammonia and nitrites to be zero. What kind of fish? What pH parameters do they like? what is the temp.?

I currently have 1 male betta and 4 mollies. The temp is 75-80 degrees. As for PH, I’m not really sure what type of parameters they like? :/

 

Just to be clear. Drop the bottle number one in the tube. Shake bottle 2 for 30 seconds. drop in tube. shake for 60 seconds, is this how you are doing it?

 

Oh ok, I searched it up, according to one site betta fish prefer around 7.0 pH and mollies prefer 6.7 and 8.5.

Just to be clear. Drop the bottle number one in the tube. Shake bottle 2 for 30 seconds. drop in tube. shake for 60 seconds, is this how you are doing it?

Yep! That’s exactly how I did the test

When I do my water change, say I wanted to add 2 gallons of water, how much Seachem prime should I add to those 2 gallons?

 

When I do my water change, say I wanted to add 2 gallons of water, how much Seachem prime should I add to those 2 gallons?

Just add what it says for the whole tank size. Makes it easier that way. Make sure you put it in before the water.

 

Oh ok, I searched it up, according to one site betta fish prefer around 7.0 pH and mollies prefer 6.7 and 8.5.

Mollies Care Guide | The Aquarium Guidewww.theaquariumguide.com › articles › mollies-care-g...

Mollies on another site like 7.5-8.5 pH and hardish water 15-30dGH. Bettas 7.0. Look up Mollies and bettas as tank mates.

Just add what it says for the whole tank size. Makes it easier that way. Make sure you put it in before the water.

Really? I'd say add it to the water, shake well then add new water with the Prime in it.

Yep! That’s exactly how I did the test

I feel ya. I read zero on Nitrates. I think to get a true reading as long as your ammonia and nitrites are near zero is don't do a water change for 7 days then do a reading. You can do readings in between, but for nitrates I mean. That's what someone recommended to me and it seemed to work.

 

Api master test kit has a history of showing a false ammonia reading of 0.25 when its actually 0 when did you start your cycle? If it was very recent, as in just a few days ago, you might not even have any ammonia in your tank yet

 

Api master test kit has a history of showing a false ammonia reading of 0.25 when its actually 0 when did you start your cycle? If it was very recent, as in just a few days ago, you might not even have any ammonia in your tank yet

I started my Fish-in cycle 3 weeks ago

 

What size is your tank? Depending on your tank size it may take a few months to cycle your tank with just 5 fish in there. Also, it looks like you need to do a high level pH test.

 

What size is your tank? Depending on your tank size it may take a few months to cycle your tank with just 5 fish in there. Also, it looks like you need to do a high level pH test.

I have a 20 gallon tank and the last time I did a high range water test it read around 7.4 - 7.8.

 

Hey guys,

I’m a little confused about my water test today. according to the master test chart it reads

PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm

The past couple of tests I’ve done have read Ammonia 0.25 ppm and now it’s reading 0 ppm? Something doesn’t seem right to me. I am planning on doing a 25% water change today.
View attachment 720054

Oh I forgot to mention I started the fish-in cycle 3 weeks ago.

You are seeing what you want to see. You want to see 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. Since you are now seeing 0 ammonia it just means you have grown enough bacteria to keep the ammonia at zero. There seems to be more stress put on seeing nitrates than necessary. They will eventually show up. Again as long as you are seeing 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites your fish will be safe.

If you've not registered any nitrites it may be just a matter of time until they show up. It took my heavily stocked tank a full 3 weeks before I saw nitrites. Since you are seeing 0 for both ammonia and nitrites you don't need to do a water change right now.

The reason for water changes when doing a fish in cycle is to get and keep the ammonia and/or nitrites down as low as possible. Since you aren't seeing either a water change right now isn't needed. I wouldn't go longer than 2 weeks between water changes though even if I didn't see either rising.

Edited for correction: I don't know where my mind was with that last bit of information. What I meant to say is I wouldn't go longer than a week between water changes while doing a fish in cycle.