New Tank Test Results Too Good To Be True?

[augustaranger]

Moved 1 rosy and 1 ghost shrimp from a 1.5 into a 20 gal. ten days ago. Also moved substrate and the foam filter sponge to seed the new tank. Added 3 danios on the third day and 2 more danios on the ninth day. So far the tests are PH 7, AM 0 and NI 0.

Am I missing something, or is this just about perfect?

Also, if the readings are this good, when should I do a partial water change?

 

[fishwatcher]

You need to test nitrAtes, too, and that will tell you when to do water changes/vacs. You should aim to keep the nitrates no higher than about 15-20. I usually do a change at 15, just to be safe. Seeding the tank with the filter media cycled your tank immediately if you did it correctly, which it sounds like you did. If you add anymore fish though, remember to add only a few inches per week.

 

[rdd1952]

You may have moved enough bacteria with the other filter to cycle the tank. Otherwise, you would have most likely seen ammonia readings. As mentioned, be careful with how many fish you add at a time. SInce you have a cold water tank, bacteria reproduction will be slower than in a tropical tank and you don't want to have a large ammonia spike.

 

[augustaranger]

Thanks to the folks in the Carolinas for the replies. Yes, the nitrates are zero. The plan is to add a couple of small fish each week as long as the numbers are good. Am I on the right track?

 

[Christine1014]

That's odd; if the tank were cycled, you'd have no ammonia or nitrites, but you WOULD have nitrAtes. No nitrates at all indictes your tank isn't cycled, but it certainly seems odd that there's no ammonia. How soon after a water change did you test the water? Also, if you're using those test strip things, they're notoriously inaccurrate. Most people recommend a liquid test kit like API Master Test kit for freshwater aquariums. (it's about $30, but will last longer than a couple packs of those strip things... and WAY more accurrate.)

 

[rdd1952]

I agree that you should be seeing some nitrate if the filter is processing ammonia unless you have some type nitrate removing sponge or media in your filter.

 

[fishwatcher]

If you are using a liquid test kit, retest again. I've had nitrates come out to 0, then retest 5 minutes later and have a reading. (I think maybe it has something to do with taking the sample too close to the filter oulet. It seems that when it's had a 0 reading that that's where the sample was taken.) Anyway, retest again with a liquid kit and post the stats, then we can tell you where you are in your cycle.

 

[rdd1952]

The key with nitrate kits is getting bottle 2 shaken well enough. The ingredients in it can clump up (thus the reason you have to shake it for 30 seconds or so) and if not properly mixed, the results will be inaccurate.

 

[augustaranger]

Tested the water again last night. BTW, it's an API liquid test kit. I thought I had a test for nitrates, but it is actually nitrites. I was careful to shake the contents well.

Here are the results: PH 7, ammonia 0, nitrites 0.

Does this confirm that the tank is cycled?

 

[Amunet]

No b/c you still need to test for nitrates.
If you test for nitrates and there is a reading of some in your tank, then yes, your tank is cycled.
But if you test for nitrates and it comes out at 0, then your tank is most probably not cycled and you'll be seeing a buildup of ammonia soon.
Just go out and get yourself a nitrate tester so you can be sure

 

[rdd1952]

You don't have to shake the nitrite bottle, only the nitrate bottle #2. As mentioned, until youcan check the nitrate to see if you have any present, yu won't really know if you're cycled.