Is this tank cycled? Dosed in ammonia, got a nitrite and nitrate spike. Nitrite and nitrate have both returned to 0, but API test isn’t quite showing yellow for ammonia. Is this an error? It’s been that slight green for weeks.
Posted by Difficult-Thought-61
4 Comments
(The third photo shows the most recent test)
There has been no water change since the first photo, not even a partial.
Have you continued adding ammonia?
My tank has been going fine for almost 3 years, no major casualties or anything. I test the water semi regularly and the ammonia levels tested from my kit always ends up just *slightly* green. It happens every time no matter how careful or how much or how little I shake the tube. I’ve just accepted it as little kit glitch, or maybe my eyes just want to think its kinda green idk.
I’m not sure if anyone else has the same experience with this kit, butttt my fish are always good!
Hi OP, do a water change and redose ammonia. That’s a chance the good bacteria that eat ammonia have starved to death without being fed over the last few weeks. This means the tank may have lost any nitrogen cycle it had.
Please redose ammonia, if converted to nitrate within 24 hours the tank has all the good bacteria needed to sustain life. If not, you’ll need to nitrogen cycle the tank.
Bacteria need food just like any other living creature.
Here’s a guide to fish less nitrogen cycling:
https://injaf.org/articles-guides/beginners-guides/the-nitrogen-cycle-and-the-fishless-cycle-getting-your-aquarium-ready-for-fish/