Is This Right ?

[vfpsql]

Finally took the plunge after 20 years or so and started another tank, this time freshwater. Trying the 'Fishless Cycle' method this time, checking my levels daily.

New test kit, about 3 weeks old. That's how long ago I started.

Everything up to about 4 days ago seemed to be progressing 'normally'. I had ammonia readings, nitrite and the nitrates started coming up. Then it stalled. I did some reading and saw mention of the pH crashing and that causing a halt in the cycle. I checked it and sure enough it had. Added some baking sode to bring it back to where it should be and started seeing the ammonia processed, nitrites started going down and the in the last few days I'm seeing the following:

When I first put in my 5 drops of solution the color is reflecting about 2ppm but when I wait the full 5 minutes its almost clear. Its not exacly clear, maybe a tinge of color but nothing close to what's on the card. Is that right ?

I'm seeing the ammonia come up with the addition of the clear ammonia and go down to 0 within 12 hours. The nitrates are up around 20 ppm.

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

The only correlation between pH and ammonia that I know of is that in my saltwater tank a few months ago, I was checking the pH and it was down to 7.4 when it was supposed to be 8.1. Then I checked all other levels and has ammonia at about 2. Ammonia makes pH drop is what I found out. Looks like you did the right thing though. Your cycling does seem to be going normally.

 

[vfpsql]

I came axross someone who had the answer... too much nitrite to test !

Turns out the test kit will do this when the nitrite level is MUCH higher than the highest indication. The trick is to use half tap and half tank water for the sample, then mutliply the result by 2 to get your reading. My nitrite looks to be between 15 and 20ppm using that method, and the color is staying consistent throughout the time period.