Are These Numbers Normal?

[impact1122]

I have started my new 50 Gal tank for almost 2 weeks now. I was bringing my water to my LFS to be tested and they have been telling me that all my levels have been good. They told me what the ppm were but I should have wrote them down....Anway.... I bought myself a test kit and today my Ammonia and Nitrate levels were 0.0ppm and my Nitrite level was 0.25ppm. Are these numbers normal or should I be seeing some ammonia and nitrate levels?

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Are you adding a source of ammonia to the tank? If not, then those numbers would be normal but you're not cycling the tank.

 

[rabbut]

Hi, firstly, do you have any fish in your tank? If so, you are undergoing a fish-in cycle, see [topic="224306"]this thread[/topic], that I wrote a few days back for people in this situation. If you have no fish in there, than levels or OK, but I would urge you to read the pinned thread [topic="113861"]here[/topic] to run a fishless cycle before adding any fish.

If fish are in the tank, then things are looking OK, as levels of nitrite are higher than ideal, but non-dammaging short-tearm. The first thread I linked you to will explain in more detail about the alues that are "safe". Do you have a nitrAte test kit? And are they dip strips or liquid drop checkers?

HTH
Rabbut