Need Advice!

looking good! you're making good purchases love the bird!

 

API tests came in today, here's the results:

Ammonia: 2.0 ppm
Nitrates: 0 ppm
Nitrites: 2.0 ppm
pH: 8.0
Alkalinity: 10 dkh
Salinity: 1.026

I do believe my cycle is a happening. Haha

 

Not really sure about all these API colors anymore lmao. I can't quite tell EXACTLY what my parameters are, but here's my best estimate:

Ammonia: 2.0 ppm
Nitrates: 10 ppm
Nitrites: 6-7 ppm
pH: 8
Alkalinity: 10 dkh
Salinity: 1.028

Honestly, I'm just waiting for the Ammonia and Nitrites to read zero and then do that water change haha. But there's definitely the big three in there: the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

 

Thats normal.
your on your way!

 

Well good! I was getting frustrated with my test kit because I would just sit there for ten minutes on just one test trying to match the color to one on the chart. I will definitely be getting Hanna meters or something in the near future.

 

I wouldn't get too worried at this point. It's enough to know that the cycle is working. Just give it time to happen.

 

I have a question. When do I need to stop keeping the ammonia level between 1-2 ppm?

 

What are you doing to keep tha ammonia level up? Feeding the tank?

 

I started it with a shrimp. But that's been removed for days, and I've just been adding little bits of food here and there when the ammonia gets low. So yep, feeding the tank.

 

With what you are doing, the ammonia should fall to 0 as the bacteria grows. That includes while you continue to feed the tank. When it does fall to 0, you'll know the there is sufficient bacteria for ammonia. When nitrites fall to 0, that means there is enough of that type bacteria. The food you are adding simulates the consumption by the critters you'll be adding later on.