cycling question

MollyFry · 12-07-2006, 07:53 AM

I have been cycling my 10G fry tank for several weeks. this morning when i tested the water i noticed that my nitrates are really low 0-5. everything else was as i expected ammonia 2 nitrite 1 ph 8 (i know PH doesnt matter at this point) i am doing a fishless cycle and will be adding sponge i have had in my main tank (put it in last Fri) tomarrow.

first question: Are the nitrates a little low at this point?

second question: should i go ahead and add the sponge to the filter on the 10G or just wait till tomarrow?

thanks

emc7 · 12-07-2006, 08:28 AM

Nitrates don't come up until you have nitrites and they don't go down without algae or plants or water changes removing them from the water. I think high nitrite can mess up the nitrate test, so i wouldn't worry about the nitrate until the nitrite is down. After that, if you readings are still low-check your test kit by measuring nitrates with another method. I think its fine to move the sponge, a few days is enough to get it started and you do have nitrite to feed it. I would have done the sponge thing weeks ago and your cycle would have been much shorter.

12-07-2006, 07:53 AM	#1
MollyFry Fishy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alabama Age: 37 Posts: 27	cycling question I have been cycling my 10G fry tank for several weeks. this morning when i tested the water i noticed that my nitrates are really low 0-5. everything else was as i expected ammonia 2 nitrite 1 ph 8 (i know PH doesnt matter at this point) i am doing a fishless cycle and will be adding sponge i have had in my main tank (put it in last Fri) tomarrow. first question: Are the nitrates a little low at this point? second question: should i go ahead and add the sponge to the filter on the 10G or just wait till tomarrow? thanks

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12-07-2006, 08:28 AM	#2
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,899	Nitrates don't come up until you have nitrites and they don't go down without algae or plants or water changes removing them from the water. I think high nitrite can mess up the nitrate test, so i wouldn't worry about the nitrate until the nitrite is down. After that, if you readings are still low-check your test kit by measuring nitrates with another method. I think its fine to move the sponge, a few days is enough to get it started and you do have nitrite to feed it. I would have done the sponge thing weeks ago and your cycle would have been much shorter.

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