Strange Nitrite Reading With Api Test Kit?

[Cheffi]

Fishless cycling my nitrites have been at 0.50 for around 4 or 5 days. Just tested and after the 5 mins the water is not like anything on the chart. It has gone a pale greyish colour almost clear. The zero reading is pale blue. Don't know what to think. Could the test chemical have gone off do you think?

 

[mark.w.jones]

Fishless cycling my nitrites have been at 0.50 for around 4 or 5 days. Just tested and after the 5 mins the water is not like anything on the chart. It has gone a pale greyish colour almost clear. The zero reading is pale blue. Don't know what to think. Could the test chemical have gone off do you think?

I'd do it again. Make sure you give the test tube a good rinse out. Also are you using both bottles to do the test as Ive heard of people only using one and thinking the second one was a spare.

 

[Cheffi]

I've done it 3 times, comes out the same. You only use one bottle for the nitrite reading. Two for the ammonia and two for the nitrate but only one for the nitrite. I'm going to lfs to get another one today.

 

[Ginge]

What make of test kit is it?

 

[Cheffi]

I said first post it's Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc freshwater master test kit.
For weeks the nitrite reading have been high and easy to read. Now all of a sudden they've gone weird. I'm going to buy just a nitrite test kit today and see what it say's.

 

[BigIan]

have you addes or done anything to the tank since the last "normal" test?


give the bottle a good shake and wash out the test tubes and every thing else really well....

 

[Cheffi]

Done all that and no I've not added anything other than ammonia.

 

[zodiac]

Done all that and no I've not added anything other than ammonia.

I had the same result the test went light green not one of the colours on the card i thought maybe the nitrite had spiked and so i done a 90% water change thinking i may be getting some fish after this i thought i would just check to make sure all was well and the nitite was deep purple (over 5ppm) i emailed API via thier contact page but they have not replied so i am now carrying on feeding amonia daily and the nitrite is still at or over 5ppm with no nitrates over a week later, i was thinking about doing another 90% water change to see if it has the same affect on the nitrates as it did on the nitrite maybe these silly bacteria are stuck in the gravel and just need a good stirring up to get then moving

 

[Daveptkd]

Done all that and no I've not added anything other than ammonia.

I had the same result the test went light green not one of the colours on the card i thought maybe the nitrite had spiked and so i done a 90% water change thinking i may be getting some fish after this i thought i would just check to make sure all was well and the nitite was deep purple (over 5ppm) i emailed API via thier contact page but they have not replied so i am now carrying on feeding amonia daily and the nitrite is still at or over 5ppm with no nitrates over a week later, i was thinking about doing another 90% water change to see if it has the same affect on the nitrates as it did on the nitrite maybe these silly bacteria are stuck in the gravel and just need a good stirring up to get then moving

There's not much bacteria in the gravel at all, wait it out The nitrites drop all of a sudden, & very quickly.

I've cycled 3 tanks this way now, I think doing water changes too early will just slow things down .

I doubt your water change affected the nitrites at all. prob. just Coincidence.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Cheffi]

Well I mailed API too via their mail page and guess what, no response so I rang the number for the UK on bottom of box and spoke to really nice Italian guy who told me to mail him and he would pass it on to API to the right person. Finger's crossed we might get an answer.

 

[Ginge]

Well I mailed API too via their mail page and guess what, no response so I rang the number for the UK on bottom of box and spoke to really nice Italian guy who told me to mail him and he would pass it on to API to the right person. Finger's crossed we might get an answer.

I just wish you good luck with that response.

 

[Cheffi]

Well nothing yet so I bought another single API nitrIte test kit today. Guess what? It's not pale grey/blue it's pale green/blue now. As these colours are nothing like anything else I've got to assume it's reading 0ppm so looks like saturday may be on Ginge

 

[plantropimunity]

i had a similar experience with their nitrate test, it went amber on me.
i rinsed the tube for about ten minutes and then did it again and it worked as it should. you may have a contaminated tube. try a new one.

 

[Cheffi]

Well I mailed API too via their mail page and guess what, no response so I rang the number for the UK on bottom of box and spoke to really nice Italian guy who told me to mail him and he would pass it on to API to the right person. Finger's crossed we might get an answer.

This morning I had a response from API USA via my Italian guy. This is what it said "To me, that sounds like the result of a very high nitrite reading, too high for the chart. The customer may find that diluting the sample and retesting will give a color that IS on the chart."

I've also been told that if that doesn't work I can contact him directly. Maybe this will be interesting to the others who have been experiencing the same problems.

Anyway yesterday afternoon I was obviously on the same track as them and I did a 50% water change added dechlor and ammonia and this morning my readings are 0ppm Ammonia, 0.50ppm NitrIte and 10ppm NitrAte. So conclusion my tank isn't cycled yet (so much for the fishless cycling being quicker) but it's nearly there. If anyone wants to comment that has had this happen to them I will pass on questions to API.