Fish In Cycle

[JDs4me]

Your nitrites are always zero it seems; so to me that part of your cycle is done, yes? Nitrates increase, and that is dealt with by doing water changes or having plants etc. so there are no worries for you there. Your ammonia seems to be yellow most of the time, but you are getting the odd reading that you feel is slightly off-yellow in the 0.25 area? So, if you test the water just after your betta has peed etc., surely you might get a slightly above zero reading then, because the bacteria hasn't had a chance to gobble it up yet...the ammonia doesn't just disappear immediately, it takes a little time to convert to nitrite, yes?

Your fishy is a happy active fishy, yes?

Sooo, taking all that into account, aren't you cycled?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I see

pH- 7.6 (or above)
ammonia (TAN)- 0
N02- 0
NO3- between 20 and 40

But trust what your eyes see in person not what your camera, then somebody's screen and then somebody's vision sees here. That includes mine. In the future, I suggest you put a white sheet of paper under the tubes so they don't sit atop different colors when you take the pictures.

The more interesting thing is my API master kits have always come with an individual color card for each test. They have a much wider white space against which you can hold the vial.

 

[OldMan47]

Mine too TTA. My test kits each have a separate color card, which makes things easier to discern in my mind.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Maybe in the States they do it the single card way but in the UK, and maybe Europe ,they do the one big card? Why is a mystery to me since they need to make the individual cards for the single test kits.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

Hey, JDs4me. Thanks for your input, you have some valid points, some of which I had already given some thought. The fishy is happy and healthy, it's been 3 weeks since he arrived and there's absolutely no signs of stress. One thing i have recently noticed is some of the alfagrog ceramic biological media has started to developed a yellowish color. I'm not sure if this has any significance to filter maturity, but just thought i'd mention it. (just ordered some frogbit btw)


TTA, have the API master test kits always been separate color charts? I just had a thought that maybe API decided to change them, and the change hasn't made it over the pond as of yet.

Todays results:

High Range pH

Dean.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Well I did not start with API for my very first test kits but the last two replacements were. I have never seen anything but single cards.

 

[DJH584]

I have noticed that the API master test kits have one colour chart for the entire range of tests and the INDIVIDUAL test kits have their own single colour chart.
I found this out when I bought a new ammonia test kit to replace the one in my master kit. That individual test kit came with an ammonia only chart for freshwater and another one for saltwater.

David

 

[OldMan47]

It looks like you are doing fine Dragon Devil. You really do not need a regular pH test if your pH is between 7.8 and 8.0. The regular pH simply will never register an on-scale reading. It looks to me like you have everything under control for now.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

Ok thanks OldMan47.

Update:
05/16/12 changed 20l of water
05/17/12 No test. I purchased and added 100% Natural Black Water Extract.

Description: (for those who don't know) Reduce pH level and contains antibacterial minerals that improve breeding and health of your fish. Creates a natural enviroment. Great for Betta, Guppy, Arowana, Discus, Angelfish, Tetra and many more freshwater fish. For best effects, use with Indian Almond Leafs.

05/18/12 Parameters:
Temp 25.5c
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30-40 ppm

05/19/12 (today)
Temp 25.5
ph 8.3
Ammonia 0.25 ?
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30-40

No flash (ammonia looks 0.25 to me)

I immediately performed a 20l water change after not liking the ammonia result. The pH seems to have risen too?


Dean.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

There is absolutely no good reason for you to have added that product. Guppys are neither soft nor acid water fish for one. Most tank bred angels are not either nor are domestic discus. Many wild angels and discus are not either. There is a difference between soft water and acidic water.

As far as I am concerned adding stuff you really do not understand is a recipe for disaster.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

There is absolutely no good reason for you to have added that product. Guppys are neither soft nor acid water fish for one. Most tank bred angels are not either nor are domestic discus. Many wild angels and discus are not either. There is a difference between soft water and acidic water.

As far as I am concerned adding stuff you really do not understand is a recipe for disaster.

TTA I read lots of Betta keepers use it with Almond leafs *shrug*. The only noticable change was the pH, which had risen and not lowered as the description stated. I have since changed 20l of water to retify.

Dean.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Betta keepers who do this are usually trying to spawn them.

"Betta" covers a lot more species than splendens. Have a look here http/www.ibcbettas.org/smp/species/index.html Some bettas do need black water but splendens is not one that does.

I kept imbellis and they spawned in my pH 7.4 and GH 6dg water. The tank was bare bottom, the water was clear and there were plants.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

TTA, That's a lot of different species, thanks for the info & link.

Tests for 05.20.12

With flash enabled.

Dean.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Thanks, TTA.

Hey, JDs4me. They're not really off topic considering I am using TSS to cycle, but no problem. By the way I like the goth type decor in your tank

Well it's now day 12 since starting my fish in cycle and my tests speak for themselves. Theres plenty of success stories using Tetra Safe Start as well as failed, hence my reason for giving it a shot. I figured if it didn't work out the worse case scenario would be huge daily water changes, but that's no real biggie since I only have a 30 litre aquarium. There could be a logical explanation to why TSS didn't work for some folk, but what do I know i'm just a novice trying to enjoy my new hobby.

Anyway seeing my water parameters have been fairly stable I skipped testing yesterday and todays tests look pretty much the same as Thursdays 03/05/12.

Todays water parameters:

Temp 25.5c
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40 ppm

Dean.

Since changing to API's ammonia test kit several months ago, I have had an absolute nightmare distinguishing the "yellow" 0mg/l from the "lime green" 0.25mg/l, compared to the Nutrafin colourless to off-yellow for the same readings. Personally, I have been treating results like in your quoted photo as 0.25mg/l, perhaps mistakenly and then doing massive water changes as a result.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

Thanks, TTA.

Hey, JDs4me. They're not really off topic considering I am using TSS to cycle, but no problem. By the way I like the goth type decor in your tank

Well it's now day 12 since starting my fish in cycle and my tests speak for themselves. Theres plenty of success stories using Tetra Safe Start as well as failed, hence my reason for giving it a shot. I figured if it didn't work out the worse case scenario would be huge daily water changes, but that's no real biggie since I only have a 30 litre aquarium. There could be a logical explanation to why TSS didn't work for some folk, but what do I know i'm just a novice trying to enjoy my new hobby.

Anyway seeing my water parameters have been fairly stable I skipped testing yesterday and todays tests look pretty much the same as Thursdays 03/05/12.

Todays water parameters:

Temp 25.5c
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40 ppm

Dean.

Since changing to API's ammonia test kit several months ago, I have had an absolute nightmare distinguishing the "yellow" 0mg/l from the "lime green" 0.25mg/l, compared to the Nutrafin colourless to off-yellow for the same readings. Personally, I have been treating results like in your quoted photo as 0.25mg/l, perhaps mistakenly and then doing massive water changes as a result.

I've only ever used the API master test kit and I too sometimes have trouble distinguishing the color, (hence why i'm still in doubt about my cycle), as you can see my pics with the flash enabled give off a different color to those without. But overall the ammonia is a very pure yellow when 0. I find the nitrate 10-20 & 40-80 hard to interpret also, but anyway if in doubt the best thing is to do is change water.

Dean.