Help understanding water test results

Hi,

I just did a water test and am needing some help deciphering the numbers and what they mean for my tank's cycle...

My tank has been running for 18 weeks total, and running with two fish and two hermit crabs for 10 weeks. My tank is full of diatoms and some (I think) green hair algae growing on the glass.

I've been testing my water every day and the numbers had all been zero. Tonight the numbers have finally changed, a bit. They are pH: 8.2-8.4, ammonia: 0.25 ppm, nitrite: 0 ppm and nitrate: 5.0 ppm.

Any help explaining these numbers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

Everything looks fine except the ammonia. You might want to test 1 more time to make sure the .25 is accurate. If it is I would do a 25% water chance ASAP.

~Will.

 

But isn't the ammonia supposed to increase while the tank is cycling? That's what I'm unsure about...if it should increase, if not, by how much, etc.

 

your tank is 18 weeks old, the initial cycle should be long over at this point.

~Will.

 

Okay, thanks for the input. It is weird though because the ammonia was always 0 for the past 18 days...so it's like it never cycled. I'll check it again tomorrow and do a partial water change if it's still elevated.