Ammonia Water Test!

[Fishda45]

so i did a water test today... its my 7th day in the cycle.

I'm being a little color bling today hahaha

so this is my reading for ammonia!
http/i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/fishda45/DSC_0738.jpg

i can't distinguish the right color, since there are so many shades of green hahaha. it is either .25 or .50

is this a normal result? should i do a water change to bump the ammonia down?

 

[cambojnr]

so i did a water test today... its my 7th day in the cycle.

I'm being a little color bling today hahaha

so this is my reading for ammonia!
http/i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/fishda45/DSC_0738.jpg

i can't distinguish the right color, since there are so many shades of green hahaha. it is either .25 or .50

is this a normal result? should i do a water change to bump the ammonia down?

if you are doing a fishless cycle then no just leave it and retest in 12 hours then does ammonia again, but if you have fish in the tank then yes you should do a big water change.

 

[fluttermoth]

Is this a fish-in or fishless cycle?

 

[ShinySideUp]

I'd go for 0.25 ppm with that colour.

 

[Fishda45]

Is this a fish-in or fishless cycle?

fish less cycle

 

[RossC]

I'd say 0.5 as its closest to it IMO I don't think it looks yellow enough for 0.25

 

[fluttermoth]

In a fishless cycle you don't want to be removing the ammonia yourself with water changes; that's fish in cycles. You need to bump the ammonia up to around 4ppm and wait for the bacteria to grow in your filter and eat the ammonia and have it go down that way.

Are you actually adding ammonia, or just letting the tank run?

 

[Fishda45]

In a fishless cycle you don't want to be removing the ammonia yourself with water changes; that's fish in cycles. You need to bump the ammonia up to around 4ppm and wait for the bacteria to grow in your filter and eat the ammonia and have it go down that way.

Are you actually adding ammonia, or just letting the tank run?

I'm planning to add ammonia!

the ingredients of my ammonia is ammonium hydroxide. and it is scentless.

so you're saying that i should just bump the number to 4ppm and just leave it alone to cycle?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, that's how to fishless cycle

 

[Fishda45]

Yes, that's how to fishless cycle

thankyou so much! you just made tank cycling really clear for me!! hahaha!

 

[RossC]

Its easy really mate, once ammonia drops to 0-0.25 add enough again to bring it to 4ppm, then wait till the nitrites drop from a super high peak to 0 and your cycled(add ammonia again when it drops to 0 if nitrites havent reached 0 yet to feed the bacteria), simples of course followed with a good water change to get rid of the nitrates

 

[Fishda45]

Its easy really mate, once ammonia drops to 0-0.25 add enough again to bring it to 4ppm, then wait till the nitrites drop from a super high peak to 0 and your cycled(add ammonia again when it drops to 0 if nitrites havent reached 0 yet to feed the bacteria), simples of course followed with a good water change to get rid of the nitrates

thanks! i've been searching the internet for weeks to fully understand tank cycling! thanks to your explanation i genuinly understand it now LOL

 

[RossC]

No problem, have you read the guide on this forum? If not click the link my sig where it says beginners. I'm currently cycling my 3rd tank and I found it complicated on my 1st but its not complicated when you think about it

 

[Fishda45]

Alright you guys, so i added household ammonia to my 5.5 gal freshwater fishless cycling tank and it bumped the number to 8. Ppm.

Is that bad? Should i just leave it alone or make a maybe 10% water change?

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I would do a 50% water change. With ammonia that high you encourage the wrong bacteria.

Also 8ppm is the maximum the kit goes up to. So its more than likely higher thab that. Do a 50% water change. That should tell you how much us in there. If it still says 8ppm do a full water change and start again.