Whaaat?!? Nitrate @ 20 ppm day 4 of cycling?!!

[Norbyland]

Hello my fishlore friends!

I’ve been doing crushed fish flakes and a bit of frozen brine shrimp for ammonia every day as well as adding live bacteria. I also added some media from a cycled tank. It’s a 23 gallon freshwater planted tank. I just checked the levels:

ammonia: 1ppm
nitrites: 0.25pm
nitrates: 20ppm

My tap water has a little below 5ppm nitrates so I guess we are really at 15… still, isn’t that high for 4 days? Am I amazing and I should add a few fish in ASAP or am I really dumb and doing everything wrong lol?

Also, there’s a white ghostly looking film on my drift wood. Good sign? Or have the ghosts from fish pasts finally caught up to me

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

kate

 

[mattgirl]

The seeded media would explain the rise in nitrates. I suspect some ammonia is being processed straight through to nitrates. Quite often id bottled bacteria and then seeded media too helps a tank skip the high nitrite spike. Let the ammonia drop to zero before adding fish.

 

[Norbyland]

The seeded media would explain the rise in nitrates. I suspect some ammonia is being processed straight through to nitrates. Quite often id bottled bacteria and then seeded media too helps a tank skip the high nitrite spike. Let the ammonia drop to zero before adding fish.

Should I stop adding fish flakes etc?

Should I stop adding fish flakes etc?

Also, the ghostly goo on the drift wood? Good sign or no? Asking for a friend. Just kidding… its for me

 

[mattgirl]

Should I stop adding fish flakes etc?

Also, the ghostly goo on the drift wood? Good sign or no? Asking for a friend. Just kidding… its for me

Go ahead and keep feeding the tank but only feed it every third day. That should keep a constant supply of ammonia in there to keep feeding the bacteria. Once enough bacteria has grown the ammonia will drop to zero.

Slime on driftwood is fairly normal in a new tank. It may be unsightly but isn't a problem. It will eventually run its course. Once fish are added they may enjoy nibbling on it.

 

[Norbyland]

Go ahead and keep feeding the tank but only feed it every third day. That should keep a constant supply of ammonia in there to keep feeding the bacteria. Once enough bacteria has grown the ammonia will drop to zero.

Slime on driftwood is fairly normal in a new tank. It may be unsightly but isn't a problem. It will eventually run its course. Once fish are added they may enjoy nibbling on it.

Thank you so much’!

 

[Norbyland]

Thank you so much’!

What do you think? If readings are the same tomorrow, can I start adding my tetras? They’re in breeding enclosures in my 10 gallon (to protect them from the bullies). I’m worried they’re depressed

 

[ProudPapa]

To my tired old eyes it looks like the test is still showing a very small ammonia level, but it's within what I understand is the margin of error. If it looks the same tomorrow I think it will be okay.