Just started cycling/Question about test kits

[cartmanis]

Hi,

Just starting to put the ammonia in to do the fishless cycling of my tank.
Problem is, my test kit (the liquid drop/compare against a colour chart) requires 20 minutes between the sampling and the development of the colour to tell you what the ammonia level is. I've added 3 tablespoons so far to my 90 gallon, at 2 tablespoons the level was at around 3.x.
Is there a quicker test kit type for ammonia?
Temp is running in the low 80's, and I threw an air stone in there to get oxygen into the water for the bacteria.
Another 10 minutes before my last test tells me if I've hit 5 on ammonia yet lol.

[Sasquatch]

I use the Hagen Ammonia Test Kit and it's an immediate reading.

Add 6 drops to 5 mL water and compare against the chart. No wait, no fuss and the range is pretty good (0-7.3ppm) and the instruction booklet even has a chart to determine the ionized ammonia at different pHs.

Works like a charm, I highly recommend them.

I added an image of what the test kit looks like. Hope it helps.

[cocoa_pleco]

ditto with sasq. I love that brand for testing

[Chrona]

Also, you can crank the temp higher. Bacteria will reproduce faster.

[cartmanis]

Thanks, I'll have to see if I can get that at Walmart or the lfs. The current one is 3 bottles, 7 drops each, and then wait 20 minutes. Been doing it for over an hour now. (though it looks like this last tbsp will do it, I'll judge in 10 minutes). So, that's just over 5 tbsp of ammonia. Hope that sounds right.

[cartmanis]

Also, you can crank the temp higher. Bacteria will reproduce faster.

Thanks, I have the heaters set to 86. Water is gradually getting there I think. It was nice and warm when I put it in, but the power bar I'm using is confusing, and I had no power going to them overnight lol.

[cartmanis]

Funny, my test kit is Hagen, but maybe because it is older it takes so long. I'll look for a yellow newer version as in the pic :)

[cartmanis]

Answered my own question, mine is for fresh/salt water, not just fresh. Seems to be the difference.

[sergo]

API has a nice kit too. that's what i use and it's immediate.

[cartmanis]

Thanks, I'll look to see what the stores have, and keep an eye out for that one to.

[kimmers318]

OMG.... I couldn't imagine waiting 20 minutes for test results! Aquarium Pharmaceuticals one is pretty good, 5 minutes max wait time, the only downside is that you have to use 2 liquids for nitrates and mix/shake in between. Don't know if the others require that or not.
Get a more user friendly test kit and you will lower your cycling stress!:ezpi_wink1:

Can I add that to my other stresses in my life????
PMS stress.....kid stress....hubby stress....job stress.....cycling stress
Sounds like a plan to me:elkgrin:

[cartmanis]

I haven't dared to read the nitrite test yet, my luck it will be 30 minute wait :)

[Lady Hobbs]

When adding the ammonia in a fishless cycle, you have to wait for the water to mix up the ammonia well anyway. Bringing up to 5. for ammonia comes to about 10 drops per gallon but this doesn't work if you don't know how much ammonia is still in the tank from the previous day. It's just a starting guess.

I only let my test tubes sit about 5 minutes.

[cartmanis]

Yes, that added to the delay as well. I would wait several minutes from adding the ammonia to taking the water sample. Then wait the 20 before deciding what I thought the colour was.

I tested again today, and the colour seemed to be a lighter shade of blue/purple than it was yesterday, so I added the same amount from yesterday in again. No nitrites from the test, but that isn't a surprise.

Can you "over ammonia' the water. Too much goes to waste, kills bacteria, etc..? just curious :) I don't know how much 5 tbsp is in drops.

[kimmers318]

The only time I have heard anyone possibly "over ammonia-ing" the water the outcome was just extremely high nitrates in the end.....like as in the color is way darker than the highest read on the card and it took massive daily water changes to lower them. However much ammonia you add to the water, the bacteria will grow to eat it up, that will of course mean higher nitrites also, and then when that bacteria finishes eating it up the nitrates are out of this world!!!
I know they aren't as accurate, but if you can't find a more user friendly liquid test kit, it should be alright to use the instant strips. I don't recommend using them for regular aquarium checks because they can be inaccurate, but to get a quick ballpark figure during the time frame of fishless cycling it should be okay to try it. Once you get towards the end of your cycle go back to the liquid kit to make sure your readings are accurate and proceed.
Good luck!

[cartmanis]

Picked up the Hagen yellow box, as above in the pics. I'll start using that.
Actually, now that I have the water in, I'm going to start planting live plants, so I'm hoping that will help with any nitrates at the end a bit.
Plus, I have a python, so it shouldn't be too hard to exchange the water at the end if the nitrates are still too high.
Thanks for the info... I still have rocks and such to scrub down and place, and see what else fits in from my collection before I worry about placing live plants in and figuring out what is what in the plant world :) I just have the vaguest plan of taller plants that will hide the back of the tank, low ground cover up front, etc...

[zenryoku]

is there anyplace you can buy just the test tubes for the test kits. I have the API freshwater test kit, but I broke one of my test tubes...now I only have two...

[cocoa_pleco]

i broke mine too and my lfs where i bought it from had extras. Im sure if you ask theyll open a pack and maybe give you a extra

[cartmanis]

I have the boxed kit from Hagen, so that gave me 6 tubes, and with the wide range PH and the Ammonia kit I have now, I've got test tubes out the wazoo :)

Haven't seen them for sale seperately though, but would guess a good lfs would have extra's if they keep opening kits to do tests :)

Well, I dunno if it's a scam or not, but just in case it might speed things up, I dumped a bunch of cycle in last night as well. Probably just a waste of money, but what the heck. :)

[kimmers318]

Of all of the stores I have been to, I have found 1 that sells extra tubes. Note to self....keep any extra tubes when you buy new kits!!!!

Cycle is hit or miss.....I have had good luck with one tank, but others it hasn't done anything. Biospira, if kept refridgerated, does contain the live bacteria you want, but it isn't something you add until you are ready to add fish. I imagine you could use it with fishless cycling, but if you aren't ready for fish you would spend big $$$ for something that although it will have the bacteria you need, unless you keep feeding it until you get fish it will begin to die off. I don't know of anyone who has used biospira with fishless cycling so I don't know.

[cartmanis]

I read about that, but I would probably have to special order it. That's what the lfs said about the frozen fish food I asked about (as I use to like to give them frozen blood worms and such now and then for variety). Ahh well, I'm sure the cycle will work out on it's own, but if I get lucky, maybe this stuff will speed it up a bit lol.

I did test for nitrites and nitrates. I think I saw a tiny reaction for nitrites and nitrates on the one test for them I did so far.

[cartmanis]

If anybody is interested, I've updated

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

With some new pics of the 90 Gallon.

Note, air stone will come out when the tank is cycled, and I put live plants in. Stones and such will probably adjust at that time as well.

[cocoa_pleco]

nice, will look SWEET with plants.

Dang, i need a stealth heater next paycheck

[cartmanis]

Thanks.

Question for those in the know.

I'm still not really seeing changes in the chemistry of the water, so Ammonia levels are high, not really any nitrites or nitrates. Fine, to be expected. But, reading what I have about fishless cycling, and seeing my ammonia levels basically reading at 5 or maybe above, do I really just keep adding the same amount of ammonia every day, or should I be letting what is there disapate/be converted first, before adding more. (or wait until I see a lowering of the levels a bit) I don't see that in the description, but don't want to turn the tank into mostly ammonia either lol :)

The write up I printed out does say add the original amount every day, but dang....

[Chrona]

Yep, constant ammonia until you get your nitrite spike, then cut it in half.

[cartmanis]

lol, thanks.... Hmm, better happen soon, or I'm going to worry about sticking my arm in the water lol Stick one of those little hazardous materials signs on it. :)

[cartmanis]

Well, the good news I believe is, that I'm starting to get Nitrite and Nitrate readings from my water. Just minimal ones so far, but they are really registering now.

Now to watch for a big Nitrite reading and reduction.

[cartmanis]

Update,

So my tests today show that my Ammonia is still high, my Nitrites are now coming back as pretty high, if not the highest on the chart. The colour of the test is hard to match to the chart, as it isn't as dark as the chart goes, but is a very bright intense pink colour. Best match was the 2nd highest colour on the chart.
I also checked Nitrates, and it comes back almost the same colour as the Nitrite test, which seems to be pretty high as well on it's chart.

Not sure if this is the official Nitrite spike or not, since it wasn't as dark as the highest reading, but given the Ammonia levels are still so high, I cut the dose of ammonia back to the half the original amount.

Now to watch and see how long it takes for the Ammonia/Nitrite numbers to drop down to 0.

[*Sarah*]

My tank just started registering NitrItes today :) Mine's only a 10 gal though, so hopefully won't take much longer to finish cycling.

[cartmanis]

Yeah, I'm hoping I'm getting close. lol. Don't know how many times I can keep telling my son that no, sorry, it isn't time to go buy fish yet lol.

[reybie]

So I was looking at the master test kit you guys were referring to at my local petsmart, it's by API. The one I saw at the shelf was approx $30 and the one online is $13.49 (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit).

Which one to get? By the way, this is getting expensive already hehe. I just got the no-spill gadget, getting ready to fill tank.

[cartmanis]

Mine is the Hagen one, as all the test kits in it are Hagen. I've got the Hagen freshwater ammonia and a Hagen wide PH test as well that I've added to it. (read squeezed in).
But, I bought it a long time ago, and don't remember what I paid for it.

The No Spill Python is sooooo nice, I can't imagine not using one. I don't bother with the tap attachement for it when cleaning with it. I run the tubing outside when I use it, and let it water my garden, why waste all that good stuff lol.

[reybie]

Actually that is a very good idea about the water for the plants. My tank will be setup close to where I can run the waste water to the outside trees.

[cartmanis]

I've updated
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
with 2 new pics of the aquarium with the new background I put on it, as well as added a pic of the test kit I have for reference.

[cartmanis]

Actually that is a very good idea about the water for the plants. My tank will be setup close to where I can run the waste water to the outside trees.

Yup, seemed like such a waste to just have it pour down the drain :) When we were watering things in the summer anyway lol.

[Lauren B.]

So I was looking at the master test kit you guys were referring to at my local petsmart, it's by API. The one I saw at the shelf was approx $30 and the one online is $13.49 (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit).


They are both the same tests. I saw the same test you're referring to online after I paid $29.99 to buy it in-store. Even when you add in shipping (approx. $6.50), the Petsmart online purchase is cheaper (if you're not in a hurry for the test and can wait a few days to have it shipped). Believe me, I kicked myself after I realized I could have saved $$ buying it online, along with a few other things I could have added to that order. You'll find that online prices are usually a bit cheaper (I say usually, because sometimes there's not much of a savings, especially when you add in shipping). I ordered my Stealth heater from Petco.com and saved a lot of bucks over the in-store price. The best way to shop is to look around online patiently, and not be in a hurry to get your items. Ordering the minimum for free shipping usually helps a lot too.

[cocoa_pleco]

i just save alot of money buy getting a membership here at a lfs. Free dog/cat/small animal nail trimming, free bird wing clipping, and unlimited aquarium water testing for 30$ a year

[Chrona]

Free dog/cat/small animal nail trimming, free bird wing clipping, and unlimited aquarium water testing for 30$ a year

I found a guy at my LFS that will test my water for free if I bring in a donut every once in a while.

[cocoa_pleco]

I found a guy at my LFS that will test my water for free if I bring in a donut every once in a while.

lol, the ol cop bribe on a fish guy. lol

bring him a case of donuts and ask for a free fish! lol

[cartmanis]

lol, so far I wouldn't trust any of the lfs's employees for testing anything, so I'll stick to testing them myself :)

[reybie]

They are both the same tests. I saw the same test you're referring to online after I paid $29.99 to buy it in-store. Even when you add in shipping (approx. $6.50), the Petsmart online purchase is cheaper (if you're not in a hurry for the test and can wait a few days to have it shipped). Believe me, I kicked myself after I realized I could have saved $$ buying it online, along with a few other things I could have added to that order. You'll find that online prices are usually a bit cheaper (I say usually, because sometimes there's not much of a savings, especially when you add in shipping). I ordered my Stealth heater from Petco.com and saved a lot of bucks over the in-store price. The best way to shop is to look around online patiently, and not be in a hurry to get your items. Ordering the minimum for free shipping usually helps a lot too.

Ouch, I just checked the no-spill kit pricing online and it's $23~ compared to $39.99 instore! Guess what's going back to the store?! :)

I'm making a shopping list so I can get free shipping :)

[cartmanis]

lol. That's what I did. Bought enough to get free shipping.
If one of my lfs was really good, I wouldn't mind spending more there, to support them a bit, but for now, I'll keep finding the cheaper deals where I can :)

Ammonia and Nitrites are now both off the charts. Putting half the ammonia I started with in, and we'll see how long it takes to see those reduce.

[reybie]

I returned the $40 no-spill kit and ended up ordering online for a total of $57. 25ft no-spill kit, freshwater kit, 150watt water heater! $10 off $60 and free shipping + some patience waiting for the supplies. ;)