Well after a small setback this weekend where I cooked off some of the bacteria (tank got up to 98 degrees) tonight my ammonia finally hit zero for the first time in about 1.5 weeks. I probably could have let it hit that sooner but I've been pumping the ammo levels to 8ppm every time I add more just to make sure I have a VERY hardy bacteria bed. I just added some more in and am hoping that tomorrow its back to zero meaning its handling the ammount of ammonia I'm givning it (enough to give 46g 8ppm)
Now I'm into the dreaded Nitrite waiting stage. I have NO idea how high my nitrates are as the medium pink on my test strip represents 10ppm and the test strip is turning violet adn the liquid test I have is even worse I think I invented a new color. The liquid test is supposed to turn some shade of purple after 5 mins. mine changes to DARK purple in about 5 seconds and after 5 mins the vial is completely clear only thing I can assume is its gone beyond visible pigmentation or something but its clearly FAR beyond the test kits ability to test for nitrite.
Nitrate is 200+ppm so I'm going to have to do one hell of a water change prior to fish being introduced but I already knew that much.
One that that was bugging me is the PH had dropped of the bottom of my scale to below 6.0 so I added some sodium bicarbonate and brought it back to 7.2
Dirftwood is almost sunk. Rocks are in we're getting there. Now that the tank is cleared I gotta say I can't wait to see the fish in those rocks I made the caves and pathways large enough that my loaches won't be stuck even once they hit 6+ inches. I can't wait.......and to boot I convinced my LFS to sell me cardinal tetras for the same price as neons ($1.29/eachUSD)
Now I'm into the dreaded Nitrite waiting stage. I have NO idea how high my nitrates are as the medium pink on my test strip represents 10ppm and the test strip is turning violet adn the liquid test I have is even worse I think I invented a new color. The liquid test is supposed to turn some shade of purple after 5 mins. mine changes to DARK purple in about 5 seconds and after 5 mins the vial is completely clear only thing I can assume is its gone beyond visible pigmentation or something but its clearly FAR beyond the test kits ability to test for nitrite.
Nitrate is 200+ppm so I'm going to have to do one hell of a water change prior to fish being introduced but I already knew that much.
One that that was bugging me is the PH had dropped of the bottom of my scale to below 6.0 so I added some sodium bicarbonate and brought it back to 7.2
Dirftwood is almost sunk. Rocks are in we're getting there. Now that the tank is cleared I gotta say I can't wait to see the fish in those rocks I made the caves and pathways large enough that my loaches won't be stuck even once they hit 6+ inches. I can't wait.......and to boot I convinced my LFS to sell me cardinal tetras for the same price as neons ($1.29/eachUSD)