first fishless cycle

[buttafuko goes fishy]

Hello,
I discovered this site yesterday while looking for info on how to properly set up my aquarium. I have a 10 gallon that used to hold my pride and joy Betta that I had for two years. Unfortunately I went away for two weeks and my room mate over fed the poor little guy and He passed away

I Totally cleaned my aquarium (with Tap water) including rinsing the sand (yes sand not gravell) and filling it with new water.

Here's my confusion.
After reading many articles yesterday I went out and bought a tester kit and a bottle of ammonia planning to do a fishless cycle. My first test completely surprised me:

Amonia: >8 ppm (expected 0ppm)

Nitrite: 0ppm (which I expected)

Nitrate: 10ppm (expected 0ppm); also tested tap water: 0ppm

I'm quite confused as I anticipated very different results. Anybody have any insight

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi bgf,

Not reeally the right forum - hence lack of replies....

Any decaying matter can cause some readings - plants, dieing filter bacteria???

Or maybe dodgy test kit/out of date?

Readings do seem a bit odd though - done any more since?


*moved from newbies*



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