Cycling - Weird ammonia readings

[andrealynn]

I have a 12 gallon tank. I've been testing the water every day, for the last 3 days it was reading .25 for ammonia. I have danios in there so I did about a 15% water change on 2 of the days. Today it's reading 0 for ammonia. Did I change too much water?

[hungryhound]

I have a 12 gallon tank. I've been testing the water every day, for the last 3 days it was reading .25 for ammonia. I have danios in there so I did about a 15% water change on 2 of the days. Today it's reading 0 for ammonia. Did I change too much water?

I doubt you changed to much, but you may have prolonged your cycle.

What are your nitrite readings. It may be that your tank is starting to produce nitrites and that your ammonia and bacteria are at a balance. Or you could have just diluted the concentration of ammonia to less than the tester can register.

Either way I sure that it will be fine, but I would check your nitrites.

[andrealynn]

My nitrites are still at 0.

[hungryhound]

My nitrites are still at 0.

Then my guess is that with your water changes you diluted them below what your tester can read.

Are you using liquid of paper strip testers?

Paper strip testers tend to be a little more inaccurate and if you are using these you may be seeing a false reading as well.

I don't think it is much to worry about. You should start seeing ammonia or nitrites soon.

[Lady Hobbs]

You need change no water with reading of .25. Danio's are very hardy. I wouldn't change any water unless it was closer to 1.00.

[andrealynn]

Ok. I'm using the strips. I had a liquid test, but I was getting completely wrong readings.

[Lady Hobbs]

More than likely, the right readings were with the liquids and the wrong with the strips.

[andrealynn]

I was getting a pH of less than 5 with the liquid. The strips said about 7.2-7.4

[hungryhound]

I was getting a pH of less than 5 with the liquid. The strips said about 7.2-7.4

Please don't take offense I am just trying to figure out why you are having trouble with the liquid.

Was the water level in the test tube only to the white line and did you only add the necessary amount of drops?

These Could be your problem. I have never had a bad reading with the liquid that didn't involve me doing one of the above things.

[andrealynn]

Ummm i followed the directions exactly it just never seemed to work quite right. Once the test strips run out, I'm going to get a different liquid test.

[hungryhound]

Ummm i followed the directions exactly it just never seemed to work quite right. Once the test strips run out, I'm going to get a different liquid test.

I think I may know what the problem is. were you using ammonia lock or something similar. I believe these products give you false readings with the liquid.

[cocoa_pleco]

ammo-lock gives you the correct ammonia reading, but the ammonia is less harsh on the fish

[zackish]

I would reccommend the API master test kit. I think many others have it as do I.

[andrealynn]

I didn't use any ammonia lock or anything which is why it is so weird.

Is there anyway to maybe speed up this process. I know I shoulda done a fishless cycle but I'm kinda stuck with fish now. I have a cory in a 29 gallon tank thats suffering from horrible nitrate levels and I need to get him out of it, but I'm worried that his transfer from high nitrate levels to a cycling tank will be torture for him.

[zackish]

I didn't use any ammonia lock or anything which is why it is so weird.

Is there anyway to maybe speed up this process. I know I shoulda done a fishless cycle but I'm kinda stuck with fish now. I have a cory in a 29 gallon tank thats suffering from horrible nitrate levels and I need to get him out of it, but I'm worried that his transfer from high nitrate levels to a cycling tank will be torture for him.

Well it sounds like your 12 gal has less toxic levels than your 29. If you have a friend with an aquarium or you can find some of that bio-spira stuff that has cultured bacteria then I would get that. Either way even if you get the bio-spira it's gunna take at least 4 days to a week.

[andrealynn]

Dumb Question: Can you have fish in the tank with biospira or no?

I don't want to kill the fish I already have or my cory thats been around for a good 5 years or so.

[cocoa_pleco]

hardy fish can work with bio-spira

[hungryhound]

I didn't use any ammonia lock or anything which is why it is so weird.

Is there anyway to maybe speed up this process. I know I shoulda done a fishless cycle but I'm kinda stuck with fish now. I have a cory in a 29 gallon tank thats suffering from horrible nitrate levels and I need to get him out of it, but I'm worried that his transfer from high nitrate levels to a cycling tank will be torture for him.

Is the 29 gallon tank cycled? If your problem is simply nitrates. Do a 50 to 75 percent water change. Do one today and one tomorrow and you nitrate problem should be fine.

If the 29 gallon is cycled you could take some of the gravel form it and put it in a some nylons and let it rest to help seed your new tank. This should help the 12 gallon cycle.

[Lady Hobbs]

Bio-spira needs to be added at the same time as the fish for it to work. It claims to not be effective once ammonia levels have been allowed to rise.

You can put your fish in a pucket or cooler with an airstone if need be until you can get that tank finished up.

[andrealynn]

Well my ammonia is back at 0. And as for the 29 gallon tank. I did a 50% water change today. I'm afraid to put anything from that tank in to the new tank just because it is soo bad.