Still Strange test results....

[cartmanis]

Okay, so it's been 2.5 weeks approx since I started cycling.

Ammonia spiked, and has dropped to 0. Perfect.

Nitrite I thought had spiked, by turning a very dark pink right around the time of he Ammonia spiking. Nitrates were high.

For the last week (6 days ago), as I posted before, the nitrite test went orange instead of pink. Now for the last bit I've been testing the nitrite and nitrates, and both read the same colour.

I've attached pics of both tests at the 2 and 5 minute marks when they are supposed to be compared against the chart.

So does this colour correspond to the results just being off the chart do you think. I'd have expected just a really dark pink/purple from the chart. Or is there maybe something else going on. Ammonia continues to be eaten up and registering at 0.
Both tests when I first put the re-agents in turn the water pink/purple, then over the time period for the test they quickly turn this colour.

Any ideas, or am I just being impatient and need to wait lol. (I'd have no problems with this if the bloody things just looked like the test still - I just wonder if something else might be going on with the water that I'm missing.)

[tweetyfelix]

Hi,
I'm pretty new to this so if I get anything wrong, I'm sure others will correct me. From my understanding of water readings, if your Ph water reading is not within the recommended range, your ammonia reading will be out. Also, have you made sure you really cleaned out your test tubes? I was told to use a pipe cleaner to scrub them out and make sure they are well rinsed. Then when you test the tank water, use a little of the tank water to rince the test tube before doing the tests. Also, check the production date on the chemical kit - even take a water sample to a local store for testing. My Ph chemical was giving funky measures and when I checked with my local store, I found my own chemical was givin a false reading (saying water was more acidic than what it really was). Hope that helps.:thumb:

[cartmanis]

Hmm, I rinse out the test tubes pretty good, but I don't scrub em on the inside. I should check out the ph again, all the ammonia and such may have messed with that. The test kits are fairly old for the nitrites and nitrates, I may break down and get new kits ... just in case.

Thanks.

[kimmers318]

If you have old kits that really could be the issue here. The coloring is definitely way off, I would think that if the readings were off the charts it would continue to darken in the same shades as the card. Try picking up a new set of test kits to be sure, or ask your LFS to test AND show you the results. (they are notorious for saying "it is okay" when in reality it isn't).
Also, re read directions, sometimes there are steps involved. For the longest time I kept getting 0 nitrates because I had missed the part (or forgotten) about having to add 1 chemical, mix and shake the 2nd chemical for 1 minute before adding.

[cartmanis]

Yah, I think I'm going to pick up new kits before I do anything else.
I bought the master kit back in Ottawa, so it's probably 4-5 years old. Not sure what the expiry is suppose to be on these.
The ammonia test that came with it did work fine - it just took forever as it was the fresh/salt water version. And the Nitrite and Nitrate tests were giving pink results when the values first started to rise.
I'll probably pick up the nitrite test to start, and see if there is a difference.

[cartmanis]

Update: 0ppm Nitrite :)

Finally got into the mall to the pet store and got a Nitrite test. Couldn't find one last night at Walmart, so ran in today after work.

Took the water test right after I got home, and it was 0ppm for a reading. Woot.

So, I've added Ammonia earlier today to keep things going, so I'll be doing the big water change this evening, or tomorrow morning. (I also bought some more plants today, so I'll plant those as well.

If the change in readings is correct, the tank cycled in about 2 weeks. That's not too bad at all. I like this method :)

Turned the temp down and removed the air filter.

Just so happens, that fish store has a nice collection of cardinals in stock, and some pretty White Cloud Minnows, so I'm thinking I will buy some of those to start.

[cartmanis]

Sigh, I'm confused.

So last night, I used the new test, and it came back 0 for the nitrite reading. This morning, I have the temp turned back down to about 75. Took the air stone out, and did a water change of about 75% (if not a bit more).

Start taking my test results to determine what I ended up with for ph and such. Everything is looking good, Ammonia still 0 as expected, and I do the Nitrite test. 5ppm. huh. I just replaced most of the water in the tank, added nothing,and it gives the highest reading a couple of times (tried 2 tests)

Test tap water, 0.

So my guess is, my nitrites were so high that it messed with the test?
I dunno, so put a bit more ammonia in, to keep things going, and called off the fish buying plans. I'll monitor and see how things go.

[Lady Hobbs]

I can understand your confusion with such goofy readings. Have you used anything in your tank other than dechlorinators and ammonia? Some of the stuff people add can mess with the tests results.

Make sure when you do a test that you allow the liquid to sit for 10 minutes to get a color change but where the yellow come from in the nitrite test I don't understand. Are you using PURE ammonia with no additives? I would make sure I added nothing other than the pure ammonia until you get a reading that's understandable. I would let the tank cycle adding nothing until you get 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and a high nitrate. I would then do my big water change using the dechlorinator, let filters run about half an hour then adjust for pH. Continue to run for a few more hours, do a final testing on everything and you should be set.

You aren't doing any cleaning or messing with the gravel or filters are you? That would keep setting the tank back, as well.

PS...don't put water in the vials directly from the tank. In other words, don't put the test tubes right in the water as they had chemicals in them.

Do a test of your water right from the tap, as well, to see what that reads. This has me very curious as to why this yellow color. This is the color your ammonia and nitrates read at......not nitrite. Are you wearing your glasses when you're doing this testing? LOL

[cartmanis]

I can understand your confusion with such goofy readings. Have you used anything in your tank other than dechlorinators and ammonia?

Have a well, so no chlorine or chloramine in the water. So the only thing I've added to the water is Ammonia.

Make sure when you do a test that you allow the liquid to sit for 10 minutes to get a color change but where the yellow come from in the nitrite test I don't understand.
Do a test of your water right from the tap, as well, to see what that reads.

The yellow I have to believe was because the original test I got was old - or at least that was the best guess.
Each test has different times it gives for the developement of the colour.
For the nitrite, the test is add 5 drops, shake for 5 seconds, then sit for 5 minutes and read.
The test last night showed pale blue, which was 0
This morning, after the water change, it showed deep purple/pink which is at a minimum 5ppm.
I tested right away the actual tap water, which gave the pale blue result.
I then went back after having it sit for a bit and did the test again from the tank, and got the same result.

Are you using PURE ammonia with no additives? I would make sure I added nothing other than the pure ammonia until you get a reading that's understandable.

Pure Ammonia. Absolutely no foaming or bubbling when given a real good long shake. (at least beyond a few that go away really quick from trapped air.


I would let the tank cycle adding nothing until you get 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and a high nitrate. I would then do my big water change using the dechlorinator, let filters run about half an hour then adjust for pH. Continue to run for a few more hours, do a final testing on everything and you should be set.

Which was the stage the tests gave me last night. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite (or so I thought, since it read light blue), and high Nitrate.


You aren't doing any cleaning or messing with the gravel or filters are you? That would keep setting the tank back, as well.

Nope. Haven't touched the filter, didn't vacume the gravel when I drained the water.


PS...don't put water in the vials directly from the tank. In other words, don't put the test tubes right in the water as they had chemicals in them.


Nope. I have multiple eye droppers I use to draw the water from the tank and fill the test tubes to the mark. Each test tube is rinsed, and then wiped out on the inside to clean it with fresh paper towel.


This has me very curious as to why this yellow color. This is the color your ammonia and nitrates read at......not nitrite. Are you wearing your glasses when you're doing this testing? LOL

Yellow on the older test kits I read as their age. I question it a bit now, maybe my nitrites were so high that that was the result. (I may try again with the old kit and see the difference after the water change, see if it gives a similar reading to the new Nitrite kit.)

Ahh well, the water change probably sets me back some, though with the nitrites still high, it can't be too bad. I added more ammonia to keep things going, and I'll see what the tests give next. If nothing else, my tank is an ammonia eating machine at this point.

Just got my hopes up after last nights readings - those are the ones that are confusing me the most at this point, it definatly read 0 Nitrites last night lol. Wearing my glasses and everything. :) (though the glasses are for distance, not close up. lol)