Not Using A Master Test Kit?

[waterdrop]

Testing during fishless cycle is not to see if anything goes wrong, but to monitor how things are going in the cycle.

You will be adding ammonia. Once it shows up around 5ppm on the test, you stop adding ammonia. Then you wait. Once the ammonia ppm goes down to 0ppm, you add ammonia to get it back up to 5ppm. Then you start watching the nitrites, which will start rising. During this, you keep adding your ammonia to 5ppm once it drops to 0ppm. Eventually, the nitrites will drop to zero. Then you will keep adding ammonia until the ammonia and nitrite levels turn to 0 within 12 hours of adding the ammonia.

If the pH level starts changing drastically during the fishless cycle, a small water change may be necessary. Once the cycle is all done, change a large amount (50%) of the water and check the nitrates. If the nitrates seem high, change the water again.

This is a good rough outline of the fishless cycling process and if you keep a good fishless cycling thread going here in the beginners section the members will help you with all the ups and downs of the process. The fishless cycling period of tank startup has even more value as a time to learn lots of core beginner things from the members.

I would note though in the above description that its generally more effective to do "down to the substrate" water changes (if a water change is needed at all) during fishless cycling. A large water change is much more effective at removing a lot of nitrite and nitrate and at replenishing some mineral content courtesy of the tap water. The large water change prior to introducing fish should also be a complete water change and all water changes should be done via substrate cleaning, which helps with nitrate removal and gives the beginner practice at that skill.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Just to add my remark. Listen to these people i went for a cheaper test kit and thought i was being clever in saving money but after 4 days off using it i had to i was lucky enough to borrow a Master test kit from a mate. They are worth every penny.

For reading up on cycling your tank again listen to these people i went out and got fish and did not cycle the tank correcly and it have come bit me in the you know were the money i lost on fish dieing i could have purchased the master test kit and saved them fish.

I still learning alot my self but do get that master test kit

 

[chigwellhammer]

Okay... Ill get the exspenive Master test kit! lol

 

[mark4785]

Right ive been told to use a master test kit to no what's happening with my water, but it's 20 quid!! Im 17 and not made of money.. Is it really a essential i need to do or is there a cheaper way? i no about adding fish food to my tank for about a week before i add fish, But would this be okay and maybe add some of this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/King-British-...plies_Fish&hash=item5d284dcdcc#ht_3197wt_1137 and some of this

£20 !!!! Crikey !! I want to know where you saw it at that price !!! I had to pay £30 at Pets @ Home !!! I wouldn't be without it. I have used the cheaper test strips and found them extremely unreliable. It's worth every penny.

You can find them for around £16.00 on eBay. Never buy anything from Pets At Home as you will never get a good deal from them..

 

[Liverbird36]

Right ive been told to use a master test kit to no what's happening with my water, but it's 20 quid!! Im 17 and not made of money.. Is it really a essential i need to do or is there a cheaper way? i no about adding fish food to my tank for about a week before i add fish, But would this be okay and maybe add some of this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/King-British-...plies_Fish&hash=item5d284dcdcc#ht_3197wt_1137 and some of this

£20 !!!! Crikey !! I want to know where you saw it at that price !!! I had to pay £30 at Pets @ Home !!! I wouldn't be without it. I have used the cheaper test strips and found them extremely unreliable. It's worth every penny.

You can find them for around £16.00 on eBay. Never buy anything from Pets At Home as you will never get a good deal from them..

That's really good to know. Thanks for the advice.

 

[the biffster]

Right ive been told to use a master test kit to no what's happening with my water, but it's 20 quid!! Im 17 and not made of money.. Is it really a essential i need to do or is there a cheaper way? i no about adding fish food to my tank for about a week before i add fish, But would this be okay and maybe add some of this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/King-British-...plies_Fish&hash=item5d284dcdcc#ht_3197wt_1137 and some of this

£20 !!!! Crikey !! I want to know where you saw it at that price !!! I had to pay £30 at Pets @ Home !!! I wouldn't be without it. I have used the cheaper test strips and found them extremely unreliable. It's worth every penny.

just ordered one on eBay for £15 i know theres p@p on that
but the whole thing is only £20 cant fall of for that
i was out looking at them last week and they were around
the £30 mark yeah a lot cheaper on ebay

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I used this one http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/NUTRAFIN-HAGEN-ESSENTIAL-MINI-MASTER-FISH-TEST-KIT-/220579021513?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item335b88c2c9 its a decent price too

 

[OldMan47]

It looks like the Hagen has all the same minimal test abilities so either one would be fine. I would base my choice on what it cost me to do a test. If one kit gave me 10 tests and the other gave me 100, the choice at the same price point would be obvious. I seriously doubt they are that far apart though.