29g Saltwater Nano Tank

[PheonixKingZ]

Or none. API is notorious for giving false .25ppm ammonia readings.

Or is it because it’s a freshwater test kit?

I’m so confused, because I feel like it’s cycled, but the test kit is showing it isn’t. ?

 

[Krib32]

Or is it because it’s a freshwater test kit?

I’m so confused, because I feel like it’s cycled, but the test kit is showing it isn’t. ?

My ammonia test kit turns opaque too, just make sure you follow the instructions right.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

My ammonia test kit turns opaque too, just make sure you follow the instructions right.

I definitely am following the instructions correctly.

The nitrite test is a solid 0ppm. Does that mean my tank is literally cycled?

(I am going to re-test everything, just to be sure)

 

[PheonixKingZ]

After doing a little research, it seems that the API ammonia test is sometimes inaccurate. I’m thinking this may be the case?

I still need to test pH, nitrite, and nitrates.

 

[Krib32]

After doing a little research, it seems that the API ammonia test is sometimes inaccurate. I’m thinking this may be the case?

I still need to test pH, nitrite, and nitrates.

Yes you probably have no ammonia I get false reading for ammonia to but I know there is none.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Yes you probably have no ammonia I get false reading for ammonia to but I know there is none.

Ok, I just re-tested, and here are my results:

Ammonia: 0ppm (weird color still, but closeted to 0)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 20-25ppm
pH: 8.0-8.4

Does that look like it’s cycled?

 

[Barry Tetra]

it's not only API that give .25 ammonia result, Tetra test kit are famous for that too.

 

[Krib32]

Ok, I just re-tested, and here are my results:

Ammonia: 0ppm (weird color still, but closeted to 0)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 20-25ppm
pH: 8.0-8.4

Does that look like it’s cycled?

Looks cycled to me.

 

[Colin_T]

Ok, I just re-tested, and here are my results:

Ammonia: 0ppm (weird color still, but closeted to 0)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 20-25ppm
pH: 8.0-8.4

Does that look like it’s cycled?

Why does your nitrate keep going up?

Are you adding any ammonia or anythign to the tank?

To see if the tank is cycled, add a bit of ammonia and see if it gets broken down into nitrate.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Why does your nitrate keep going up?

Are you adding any ammonia or anythign to the tank?

To see if the tank is cycled, add a bit of ammonia and see if it gets broken down into nitrate.

I was ghostfeeding, but I’m going to stop now.

 

[Colin_T]

if you have been feeding the tank and the ammonia and nitrite remain on 0ppm, but the nitrate goes up, then the filter has cycled.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

if you have been feeding the tank and the ammonia and nitrite remain on 0ppm, but the nitrate goes up, then the filter has cycled.

I think I figured out why my nitrate is much higher in my SW tank, than it is in my freshwater tank.

I think it’s because I don’t dose Seachem Prime in my saltwater tank.

Prime detoxifies Ammonia, Nitrite, and nitrate. I don’t use Prime in my saltwater tank, because the RO/DI system takes out all the chlorine anyway.

Should I dose Prime to the tank and see if that helps?

——

I was just worried about the high nitrates, because you said they should be at 0. (I think you said it’s because shrimp need very low?)

 

[Colin_T]

All invertebrates need a low nitrate level, as close to 0ppm as possible.

I have no experience with Prime, perhaps start a thread asking about it.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

All invertebrates need a low nitrate level, as close to 0ppm as possible.

I have no experience with Prime, perhaps start a thread asking about it.

Never mind, I was wrong. Prime apparently only detoxifies ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite for 48 hours, so that would not explain it.

I’m about to test again, to see if I get a different result.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Are clownfish or gobies more hardy? My research is showing that gobys are a lot less hardy than clowns, which makes me think I should maybe add the clowns first?

—-

Hehe, kicking myself super hard right now - may have to go to the ER after the beating I just have myself...

—-

A little back story:

I was told that the liquid in the API freshwater kit is the same as the liquid in the API saltwater kit, except the color cards are different. I said, “Heck, I’m going to save some money, and just print out saltwater color card, but use the freshwater liquid”.

Turns out, my printer is a crappy piece of trash that couldn’t print accurate colors if the world depended on it. So here I am, scratching my head, wondering why my nitrates are at 20ppm, then it hit me - the colors are wayoff.

I googled a picture of the saltwater card, and the colors are way different.


My nitrates are actually, 5ppm

——
Apparently API is known for its trashy test kits, so I will probably be upgrading soon.


——

Here are my real accurate parameters:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
pH: 8.2