Fishless Cycle Confusion!

Hi, sorry just a quick question! The ammonia level is 0 now. Am I ok to leave it as it is or do I need to redose? Just worried about starving the BB!

Great! Redose to 1 ppm and recheck in 24 hours. If it drops to 0 ppm and your nitrites remain at 0 ppm, you're cycled!

 

Great! Redose to 1 ppm and recheck in 24 hours. If it drops to 0 ppm and your nitrites remain at 0 ppm, you're cycled!

I dosed to 1ppm last night using the ammonia calculator but my little boy woke up so didn’t manage to confirm the level after an hour as I usually would. So I tested quickly before I left for work & was already 0! So re dosed to 1ppm & I’ll re-check it this evening along with nitrites & nitrates. I hope I did the right thing...?! Didn’t expect that at all!

 

I dosed to 1ppm last night using the ammonia calculator but my little boy woke up so didn’t manage to confirm the level after an hour as I usually would. So I tested quickly before I left for work & was already 0! So re dosed to 1ppm & I’ll re-check it this evening along with nitrites & nitrates. I hope I did the right thing...?! Didn’t expect that at all!

Great! You ARE processing ammonia perfectly. Nitrites must be processing within 24 hours also though. If there are a trace of nitrites tonight when you get home from work, wait until tomorrow morning and retest approximately 24 hours after you last dosed with ammonia and see what your nitrite level is. I suspect you are cycled though. If so, go get some fish to put in there!

 

Great! You ARE processing ammonia perfectly. Nitrites must be processing within 24 hours also though. If there are a trace of nitrites tonight when you get home from work, wait until tomorrow morning and retest approximately 24 hours after you last dosed with ammonia and see what your nitrite level is. I suspect you are cycled though. If so, go get some fish to put in there!

Thank you! I am feeling like this might be it now... I will test as you’ve said & let you know!!


Just tested!
0.5 ppm ammonia (8 hours since adding 1ppm)
0 ppm Nitrite
5ppm Nitrate

Good yes?!

 

Just tested!
0.5 ppm ammonia (8 hours since adding 1ppm)
0 ppm Nitrite
5ppm Nitrate

Good yes?!

Very good! Retest ammonia in the AM, if 0 ->get FISH! CONGRATS on your patience and diligence!

 

Very good! Retest ammonia in the AM, if 0 ->get FISH! CONGRATS on your patience and diligence!

Yay!!! Thank you so much for all of your support & advice! I couldn’t have done it without the benefit of your knowledge & experience!

Unfortunately the only fish shop we know of that sell Betta’s is over an hour away from where I live... so will be this weekend at the earliest that I can get a fish! Do I just keep dosing 1ppm daily until we can put the fish in? & should I do a full water change the day before?

 

Yay!!! Thank you so much for all of your support & advice! I couldn’t have done it without the benefit of your knowledge & experience!

Unfortunately the only fish shop we know of that sell Betta’s is over an hour away from where I live... so will be this weekend at the earliest that I can get a fish! Do I just keep dosing 1ppm daily until we can put the fish in? & should I do a full water change the day before?

Yes you can put a bit in also make sure you do a water change to bring nitrates down before you get your new fish it's a great feeling when it comes to an end my fish are still doing great no swings in ammonia or nitrite just doing my 40% water changes every week. Well done now you and your child will be able to enjoy your new pet nice one

 

Yay!!! Thank you so much for all of your support & advice! I couldn’t have done it without the benefit of your knowledge & experience!

Unfortunately the only fish shop we know of that sell Betta’s is over an hour away from where I live... so will be this weekend at the earliest that I can get a fish! Do I just keep dosing 1ppm daily until we can put the fish in? & should I do a full water change the day before?

You are very welcome. Yes dose with about 1 ppm every other day until you get your Betta, do about a 30% change as Lcas1 said before you get the betta. Choose a fish that looks and acts healthy! Good luck and post a picture after you get him all settled in!

 

Yes you can put a bit in also make sure you do a water change to bring nitrates down before you get your new fish it's a great feeling when it comes to an end my fish are still doing great no swings in ammonia or nitrite just doing my 40% water changes every week. Well done now you and your child will be able to enjoy your new pet nice one

You are very welcome. Yes dose with about 1 ppm every other day until you get your Betta, do about a 30% change as Lcas1 said before you get the betta. Choose a fish that looks and acts healthy! Good luck and post a picture after you get him all settled in!

Thanks so much to you both! We’re excited now, lovely feeling after a long wait!! Not told my little boy yet just in case... but hopefully we’ll be getting our Betta this weekend. I’ll definitely post some pictures when he’s settled

 

Thanks so much to you both! We’re excited now, lovely feeling after a long wait!! Not told my little boy yet just in case... but hopefully we’ll be getting our Betta this weekend. I’ll definitely post some pictures when he’s settled

Better not tell him until you're on the way to the fish store or it will be like a long car trip..."are we there yet?", "are we there yet?", "mama WHEN are we gonna get there?"

 

Better not tell him until you're on the way to the fish store or it will be like a long car trip..."are we there yet?", "are we there yet?", "mama WHEN are we gonna get there?"

Haha that’s exactly how it would be... think I’ll wait until we’ve parked up outside to tell him!! He’ll love picking out a fish, I’m sure we’ll end up with a blue one as that’s his favourite colour (for this week anyway!)

 

Better not tell him until you're on the way to the fish store or it will be like a long car trip..."are we there yet?", "are we there yet?", "mama WHEN are we gonna get there?"

HI guys, sorry to be back so soon (with no fish!!!) but looks like I may be coming across problems again... :-(

Since I last messaged on Wednesday with 0.5 ppm ammonia these have been my results... I’ve tried to give it a couple of days but still no change.

Wednesday 24/7 (am)- 0ppm ammonia, added 1ppm
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5ppm nitrate

Thursday 25/7 (am) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites

Friday 26/7 (pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites, 5ppm Nitrates. PH 7.6

I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do? Or should I just wait it out? Don’t understand why ammonia was processing so rapidly & now has stopped?

Thanks

 

HI guys, sorry to be back so soon (with no fish!!!) but looks like I may be coming across problems again... :-(

Since I last messaged on Wednesday with 0.5 ppm ammonia these have been my results... I’ve tried to give it a couple of days but still no change.

Wednesday 24/7 (am)- 0ppm ammonia, added 1ppm
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5ppm nitrate

Thursday 25/7 (am) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites

Friday 26/7 (pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites, 5ppm Nitrates. PH 7.6

I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do? Or should I just wait it out? Don’t understand why ammonia was processing so rapidly & now has stopped?

Thanks

HI me personally I would try dose back to 1ppm ammonia and then check again in 24 hours the only time my cycle stalled was when I had high nitrates so am not 100% sure but I would try redosing ammonia to 1ppm and go from there it might be the bacteria just hasn't quite got enough to process it all yet but shouldnt be far off getting there now. Momgoose will probably be able to help you more on this matter

 

HI me personally I would try dose back to 1ppm ammonia and then check again in 24 hours the only time my cycle stalled was when I had high nitrates so am not 100% sure but I would try redosing ammonia to 1ppm and go from there it might be the bacteria just hasn't quite got enough to process it all yet but shouldnt be far off getting there now. Momgoose will probably be able to help you more on this matter

Thanks for your reply! I’m just surprised as it processed 1ppm in 10 hours last week... so really thought it was there. I’ll check it again in the morning & dose back up to 1ppm. Hopefully Momgoose will have an idea of what’s going on!

 

Once mine started to process the ammonia it was gone every day without fail I just had a long wait for nitrite to go down it will def test your patience. Think one of my fish may be diseased now an all even though my parameters are spot on gutted!!!! So just shows after all the patience I kept things can still go wrong

 

Once mine started to process the ammonia it was gone every day without fail I just had a long wait for nitrite to go down it will def test your patience. Think one of my fish may be diseased now an all even though my parameters are spot on gutted!!!! So just shows after all the patience I kept things can still go wrong

Aww no that’s horrible!! So sorry to hear that after all your hard work :-( I suppose they can already have problems when you get them but not show symptoms. Hope it’s nothing too nasty & your fish recovers!

 

Aww no that’s horrible!! So sorry to hear that after all your hard work :-( I suppose they can already have problems when you get them but not show symptoms. Hope it’s nothing too nasty & your fish recovers!

I know am gutted don't even know what it is posted a thread earlier and only got one reply which didn't really answer my question but hey it's all good Haha it's been in there 3 weeks with the others the rest seem fine so will see what happens. But am sure your cycle isn't far away! I have a betta in the tank as well my son chose it that is absolutely fine so fingers crossed its nothing
To serious hope you get sorted soon

 

HI guys, sorry to be back so soon (with no fish!!!) but looks like I may be coming across problems again... :-(

Since I last messaged on Wednesday with 0.5 ppm ammonia these have been my results... I’ve tried to give it a couple of days but still no change.

Wednesday 24/7 (am)- 0ppm ammonia, added 1ppm
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5ppm nitrate

Thursday 25/7 (am) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites
(pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites

Friday 26/7 (pm) 0.5ppm ammonia, trace nitrites, 5ppm Nitrates. PH 7.6

I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do? Or should I just wait it out? Don’t understand why ammonia was processing so rapidly & now has stopped?

Thanks

Can you take a clear picture of your tank? What dechlorinator are you using? And sorry, I can't find where you said what brand ammonia you are using. Do you have an airstone in your tank? And one other thing, make sure water is moving through your filter media and not around it. (Make sure a bunch of gunk isn't clogging it) gunk sometimes collects on the media in a cycling tank.
Again, sorry, were in an 8 hour time difference I believe. I'm in Western US so you get off work when I'm sleeping and My late afternoon is probably past your bedtime!

 

Can you take a clear picture of your tank? What dechlorinator are you using? And sorry, I can't find where you said what brand ammonia you are using. Do you have an airstone in your tank? And one other thing, make sure water is moving through your filter media and not around it. (Make sure a bunch of gunk isn't clogging it) gunk sometimes collects on the media in a cycling tank.
Again, sorry, were in an 8 hour time difference I believe. I'm in Western US so you get off work when I'm sleeping and My late afternoon is probably past your bedtime!

Don’t worry that was a very fast reply considering! Massive time difference! I’m using Tetra AquaSafe decholorinator & I have a large airstone on full pelt. I’ve got ‘Kleen off’ pure ammonia (9.5%). I bought this as I saw it recommended on lots of different websites & forums.
The flow still looks good from the filter but hard to say if it’s pasding through the sponge. The sponge looks horrible & pretty gunked up! So maybe it’s that & I should give it a rinse in some tank water? Been nervous about touching it as didn’t want to disturb any progress.

 

View attachment 575719 View attachment 575720 View attachment 575721 View attachment 575722 View attachment 575723 View attachment 575724

Don’t worry that was a very fast reply considering! Massive time difference! I’m using Tetra AquaSafe decholorinator & I have a large airstone on full pelt. I’ve got ‘Kleen off’ pure ammonia (9.5%). I bought this as I saw it recommended on lots of different websites & forums.
The flow still looks good from the filter but hard to say if it’s pasding through the sponge. The sponge looks horrible & pretty gunked up! So maybe it’s that & I should give it a rinse in some tank water? Been nervous about touching it as didn’t want to disturb any progress.

Yes, give it a good rinse and squeezing out! In tank water or better yet, you can dechlorinate a gallon or two of fresh water and do it in that. Let's see if that has an effect on your ammonia by tomorrow. Sometimes, if water is circulating around the established bacteria, the ammonia doesn't get processed. Let's see what your ammonia level is when you get off work tomorrow. You are doing everything right but I think for some reason, your water is touchy. It might be the nature of the water- how your municipal water treatment facility handles the water they send to customers etc. Cycling can be affected by the types of dissolved minerals and other dissolved solids in the water as well as the types of buffers they add to water etc. Let's give it another 48 hours of testing and redosing to see if there's something we're missing. Your tank is perfect for a betta! Very nice setup!

 

Yes, give it a good rinse and squeezing out! In tank water or better yet, you can dechlorinate a gallon or two of fresh water and do it in that. Let's see if that has an effect on your ammonia by tomorrow. Sometimes, if water is circulating around the established bacteria, the ammonia doesn't get processed. Let's see what your ammonia level is when you get off work tomorrow. You are doing everything right but I think for some reason, your water is touchy. It might be the nature of the water- how your municipal water treatment facility handles the water they send to customers etc. Cycling can be affected by the types of dissolved minerals and other dissolved solids in the water as well as the types of buffers they add to water etc. Let's give it another 48 hours of testing and redosing to see if there's something we're missing. Your tank is perfect for a betta! Very nice setup!

Great thanks so much for your advice! I’ll go and do that now & dose it back to 1ppm. Yeh I agree, there’s definitely something going on that I have no control over in the water. Just got to keep going though!!! Aww thank you for saying that I’ve done a lot of research & hoped I’d made a nice home for him. Going to add another live plant too when the ammonia’s under control

 

Great thanks so much for your advice! I’ll go and do that now & dose it back to 1ppm. Yeh I agree, there’s definitely something going on that I have no control over in the water. Just got to keep going though!!! Aww thank you for saying that I’ve done a lot of research & hoped I’d made a nice home for him. Going to add another live plant too when the ammonia’s under control

You can add one now! Anubias are a plant that don't require a ton of light and really no fertilizers. They do best just anchored on the tank floor (not planted) or on a piece of driftwood. I have mine in a tank with African Cichlids that routinely assault the plants so mine aren't in the best shape. This one's roots sit on top of the sand and it's just held down by the lava rock. The roots are actually growing into the rock so now I can move it around with its rock and it stays out on the aquarium floor. Plants LOVE ammonia and may help with it as well.

 

You can add one now! Anubias are a plant that don't require a ton of light and really no fertilizers. They do best just anchored on the tank floor (not planted) or on a piece of driftwood. I have mine in a tank with African Cichlids that routinely assault the plants so mine aren't in the best shape. This one's roots sit on top of the sand and it's just held down by the lava rock. The roots are actually growing into the rock so now I can move it around with its rock and it stays out on the aquarium floor. Plants LOVE ammonia and may help with it as well. View attachment 575738

There’s me thinking the ammonia would kill the plants haha! That plant looks lovely & just what I want for the Betta with the big flat leaves. Also low maintenance so that’s a bonus... thanks I’ll go get one tomorrow!
I’ve just rinsed & squeezed the sponge several times in a jug of fresh dechlorinated water. It looked very murky after so fingers crossed that’ll do the trick. Also topped the ammonia up! Luckily I’m a nurse & have access to very tiny syringes haha

 

There’s me thinking the ammonia would kill the plants haha! That plant looks lovely & just what I want for the Betta with the big flat leaves. Also low maintenance so that’s a bonus... thanks I’ll go get one tomorrow!
I’ve just rinsed & squeezed the sponge several times in a jug of fresh dechlorinated water. It looked very murky after so fingers crossed that’ll do the trick. Also topped the ammonia up! Luckily I’m a nurse & have access to very tiny syringes haha

I'm a retired nurse as well lol! But I have grand children (15 and 19 yo) that love to come over and look for new baby fish in the rocks with a flashlight!

 

I'm a retired nurse as well lol! But I have grand children (15 and 19 yo) that love to come over and look for new baby fish in the rocks with a flashlight!

Wow that’s a coincidence!! Wish I was retired sometimes... haha. Aww I bet they love it! My uncle’s had a pond with Koi Carp since I was little & used to love visiting & letting the fish suck my toes lol. Anyway I’d best go to bed, it’s past 1am here. Toddler up in 5 hours... :-O Will be in touch with my test results

Yes, give it a good rinse and squeezing out! In tank water or better yet, you can dechlorinate a gallon or two of fresh water and do it in that. Let's see if that has an effect on your ammonia by tomorrow. Sometimes, if water is circulating around the established bacteria, the ammonia doesn't get processed. Let's see what your ammonia level is when you get off work tomorrow. You are doing everything right but I think for some reason, your water is touchy. It might be the nature of the water- how your municipal water treatment facility handles the water they send to customers etc. Cycling can be affected by the types of dissolved minerals and other dissolved solids in the water as well as the types of buffers they add to water etc. Let's give it another 48 hours of testing and redosing to see if there's something we're missing. Your tank is perfect for a betta! Very nice setup!

Hi, I know we’re going to wait it out for a couple of days but thought I’d let you know my parameters for this evening!

Ammonia- 1ppm
Nitrites- 0.25ppm
Nitrates- 5ppm

So ammonia hasn’t dropped at all in 24 hours... hoping it’ll just take a bit longer for the filter unclogging to effect the water

 

Parameters are still the same this evening... ammonia hasn’t changed! Getting very frustrated with this now. 6 weeks in!! Saw a beautiful Betta I really wanted today too :-(

On the upside I’ve added a Java Fern (couldn’t get Anubias) & some Frogbit! Tied the Java to my rock ornament & it’s created a lovely centrepiece

 

You can add one now! Anubias are a plant that don't require a ton of light and really no fertilizers. They do best just anchored on the tank floor (not planted) or on a piece of driftwood. I have mine in a tank with African Cichlids that routinely assault the plants so mine aren't in the best shape. This one's roots sit on top of the sand and it's just held down by the lava rock. The roots are actually growing into the rock so now I can move it around with its rock and it stays out on the aquarium floor. Plants LOVE ammonia and may help with it as well. View attachment 575738

Sorry I forgot to reply to a post of yours so don’t know if you saw my message. Please see above Should I just wait longer or is there anything else you can suggest please?

Yes, give it a good rinse and squeezing out! In tank water or better yet, you can dechlorinate a gallon or two of fresh water and do it in that. Let's see if that has an effect on your ammonia by tomorrow. Sometimes, if water is circulating around the established bacteria, the ammonia doesn't get processed. Let's see what your ammonia level is when you get off work tomorrow. You are doing everything right but I think for some reason, your water is touchy. It might be the nature of the water- how your municipal water treatment facility handles the water they send to customers etc. Cycling can be affected by the types of dissolved minerals and other dissolved solids in the water as well as the types of buffers they add to water etc. Let's give it another 48 hours of testing and redosing to see if there's something we're missing. Your tank is perfect for a betta! Very nice setup!

Done some additional testing today to see if it would help make anything any clearer.
PH- 8
KH- 3 drops (fallen from 4 drops last time)
GH- 5 drops (the same)

 

Done some additional testing today to see if it would help make anything any clearer.
PH- 8
KH- 3 drops (fallen from 4 drops last time)
GH- 5 drops (the same)

What are your readings this eve? Ammonia nitrites?

 

What are your readings this eve? Ammonia nitrites?

I’ve not done my tests for tonight yet it’s 3pm here & we’re out at the moment. Will post them later on

 

What are your readings this eve? Ammonia nitrites?

You know, as far along as your tank is, you could probably go ahead and get that betta and some Seachem Prime. Just dose the tank with it every 48 hours and any replacement water you put in there during water changes. At this point, I don't know what is going on with your persistent ammonia, but the Prime wil protect the betta and still allow the tank to finish cycling. Just do a 50% water change first, test tank with Prime and put him in there. Do big enough and frequent enough water changes to keep the combined ammonia/nitrite level to less than 1 ppm.

 

You know, as far along as your tank is, you could probably go ahead and get that betta and some Seachem Prime. Just dose the tank with it every 48 hours and any replacement water you put in there during water changes. At this point, I don't know what is going on with your persistent ammonia, but the Prime wil protect the betta and still allow the tank to finish cycling. Just do a 50% water change first, test tank with Prime and put him in there. Do big enough and frequent enough water changes to keep the combined ammonia/nitrite level to less than 1 ppm.

I’m glad you’ve said that, had started thinking the same way myself to be honest! We know the filter is capable of processing the ammonia as it did it 3 times last week & nitrates are still present & rising. Have no idea what’s causing it to stall now but it doesn’t seem like there’s a solution.

Numbers for tonight are
1ppm ammonia (of course! But at least it’s not rising now so that’s positive)
Trace Nitrites
10ppm Nitrates

Have already got a small bottle of prime so will get in touch with the fish shop tomorrow to see if Mr Betta’s still there

 

I’m glad you’ve said that, had started thinking the same way myself to be honest! We know the filter is capable of processing the ammonia as it did it 3 times last week & nitrates are still present & rising. Have no idea what’s causing it to stall now but it doesn’t seem like there’s a solution.

Numbers for tonight are
1ppm ammonia (of course! But at least it’s not rising now so that’s positive)
Trace Nitrites
10ppm Nitrates

Have already got a small bottle of prime so will get in touch with the fish shop tomorrow to see if Mr Betta’s still there

Sounds good! Post a Picture of the new guy when he gets settled in!

 

Sounds good! Post a Picture of the new guy when he gets settled in!

I was just flicking through some aquarium posts & I noticed one where someone was advised not to position their airstone under the filter inlet as it can cause problems... I moved mine there last week! Just wondering if you think this could have caused the issue? Could it have caused damage to the filter? I’ve just moved it to the other side of the tank. Bit worried now!

 

I was just flicking through some aquarium posts & I noticed one where someone was advised not to position their airstone under the filter inlet as it can cause problems... I moved mine there last week! Just wondering if you think this could have caused the issue? Could it have caused damage to the filter? I’ve just moved it to the other side of the tank. Bit worried now!

It won't damage the filter but it very well can interfere with the water flow through the filter and thus the effectiveness of your biological bacteria that live in the filter media! If your filter is sucking up air instead of tank water, the volume of water flowing through your filter media is reduced and nitrogen waste isn't being processed as effectively. Move the airstone to the center or other side of the tank, away from the filter intake=problem solved!
Looking back at your photo, I SEE that now! So sorry I didn't notice that before. That could be the whole reason your cycle 'relapsed'. I'm glad you caught that. I think yoy might have just solved "The Mystery of the Nitrogen Nightmare"! Lol!

 

Haha that made me laugh!! The whole thing could be turned into a very entertaining movie! ;-) & don’t worry at all about not seeing it, it wasn’t obvious on the pictures at all.
I’m just glad to have a possible answer to what went wrong. I’ve moved it to the opposite side of the tank now. Fingers crossed things will start moving again. Can’t get our Betta until next Friday so got time for one final push! Thanks for all your help & advice

 

Haha that made me laugh!! The whole thing could be turned into a very entertaining movie! ;-) & don’t worry at all about not seeing it, it wasn’t obvious on the pictures at all.
I’m just glad to have a possible answer to what went wrong. I’ve moved it to the opposite side of the tank now. Fingers crossed things will start moving again. Can’t get our Betta until next Friday so got time for one final push! Thanks for all your help & advice

Nancy Drew "Her Interactive" digital mystery games. I have every one of their interactive computer mysteries (30+). My granddaughter and I have been playing them together since she was 9 (she's 15 now). It could a title for one of their games!! Hahaha!

 

Nancy Drew "Her Interactive" digital mystery games. I have every one of their interactive computer mysteries (30+). My granddaughter and I have been playing them together since she was 9 (she's 15 now). It could a title for one of their games!! Hahaha!

Lol it could!! (not sure how well it’d sell though...!) I used to read Nancy Drew books as a kid, loved them but had totally forgotten about it! Bet the games are great

 

Lol it could!! (not sure how well it’d sell though...!) I used to read Nancy Drew books as a kid, loved them but had totally forgotten about it! Bet the games are great

You should try one. They are incredibly well done and very educational for kids and tweens. Lots of puzzles, fact finding and problem solving! And some of them are very suspenseful! The Hardy boys show up to help in some of the episodes!

 

It won't damage the filter but it very well can interfere with the water flow through the filter and thus the effectiveness of your biological bacteria that live in the filter media! If your filter is sucking up air instead of tank water, the volume of water flowing through your filter media is reduced and nitrogen waste isn't being processed as effectively. Move the airstone to the center or other side of the tank, away from the filter intake=problem solved!
Looking back at your photo, I SEE that now! So sorry I didn't notice that before. That could be the whole reason your cycle 'relapsed'. I'm glad you caught that. I think yoy might have just solved "The Mystery of the Nitrogen Nightmare"! Lol!

Well it looks like things are moving again!! My filter flow is much improved today since moving the airstone last night. I also added another bottle of Dr. Tim’s yesterday, just trying to have one last shot at getting the cycle completed fishless. Plus I’m not convinced that the dose last week did anything... maybe it went bad during transit in the warm weather last week. My test results this evening are...

Ammonia 0.5 (from 1ppm last night)
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 40!

Just wanted to check how high I can let the nitrates rise before I need to do a water change please?

 

Yay! If you added Dr. TIMS, just wait to do a water change until your nitrates get up around 80.