Need help reading test !

Is the ammonia 0 or .25? I can't tell.

I believe everything else is reading 0?

Thanks in advance!

 

Looks like .25 to me.

 

Hard to tell. I would say 0. it kinda has a yellowish tint. either way...it is low.

 

I'll wait on it a few more days just to be safe. I'm doing a fishless cycle on this tank using fish food, Stability and media from my established tank so I think I'm nearly there.

 

The reason It looks like .25 to me is the fact you have no nitrates yet. However your nitrate test shows dark yellow, means that you are pretty close to being cycled.

 

Take it to the natural sunlight outside and see what it looks like.

 

This was actually taken in natural sunlight! I usually do my tests in the morning and then sit by my sliding door were the sun comes through to read the results.

 

I'm still a beginner, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt. However, it seems to me that you have trace levels of both ammonia and nitrates, while your nitrites are at 0. It would seem to me that you should wait for your nitrates to come up slightly, then do a water change to combat the ammonia (unless it disappears with the nitrates increasing), and then you should be good to go.

Of course, there are a few folks who will be able to advise you far better than I can. CindiL, el337, tyguy7760

 

I'll wait on it a few more days just to be safe. I'm doing a fishless cycle on this tank using fish food, Stability and media from my established tank so I think I'm nearly there.

How long has the established tank been set up? Is it the 10 gallon in your profile? Depending on how long it's been cycled, it may or may not help. But usually if you have seeded media from an established tank, you should be able to add your fish right away to get an instant cycle. There would be no need to do a fishless cycle. How big is the tank you're trying to cycle?

How much ammonia were you getting by adding fish food? Do you have ammonia in your tap at all? It's a little hard to tell what the ammonia is exactly with the tube in front of the color chart. Could you re-test and hold it against the white part of the card only?

 

I usually raise the bottle and look at the or take the lid off and look down inside it shows the green tint if it is Infact .25

 

It looks 0,0,0 to me. Nitrates may be there, but not conclusive

 

How long has the established tank been set up? Is it the 10 gallon in your profile? Depending on how long it's been cycled, it may or may not help. But usually if you have seeded media from an established tank, you should be able to add your fish right away to get an instant cycle. There would be no need to do a fishless cycle. How big is the tank you're trying to cycle?

How much ammonia were you getting by adding fish food? Do you have ammonia in your tap at all? It's a little hard to tell what the ammonia is exactly with the tube in front of the color chart. Could you re-test and hold it against the white part of the card only?

The established tank has been running a few months, using a filter I took off an old tank that was up and running about a year.

The new tank I'm cycling is a ten gallon.

I do have some ammonia in my tap but I'll have to check how much as again. I was getting a 1 from the fish food.

I'll retest first thing tomorrow!

 

Here is a better view, as requested.


Tube on the left is plain tapwater. Tube to the right is the cycling tank.

 

Looks like 0.50 in your tap and 0 in the tank.

 

Looks like 0.50 in your tap and 0 in the tank.

Sweet! Thought so too, thanks for the confirmation!

Should I still keep feeding the tank flake food while there aren't any fish yet? I understand that there needs to be a source of ammonia for the bacteria to feed on but I'm not sure if that applies once the tank is cycled.

 

Yes, are you keeping the fish food in a media bag at least so it doesn't make a mess of your tank? What's your planned stocking for the 10g?

 

Yep!

I am planning on stocking with kuhlI loaches, Java Fern, some Crypts, and Oriental sword.

Ten gallon isn't the ideal size yet as I am planning to upgrade eventually when the kuhlis get larger but I figured with a heavily planted tank and an Aquaclear 30, I'll be okay for the time being while they are still on the small side.

 

I think you should consider stocking for the tank you have. Sometimes, things don't work out with getting the larger tank and then it's really not fair for the fish. And I've never kept kuhlis but I hear they're more active and you'll see them a lot more if they are kept in a group of 8+. You really have to consider the physical space they need, not just the filtration you have or how planted you are.

 

Noted, appreciate the advice