Bad test kit?

new2reef2 · 12/27/2015, 09:56 PM

Hello I am just wondering if my API test kit is bad. A week and a half ago I added 50lbs of LR to my new tank. Tested the parameters 48 hours later showing .25 ammonia and 0 nitrate and 0 nitrite. Yesterday I bought a clean up crew of about 20 snails 5 nassarius snails and 8 hermits. I also bought a fire fish. Today I tested again and it shows 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrite. Shouldn't I be showin some nitrate and when should I do my first water change?

Ron Reefman · 12/28/2015, 06:27 AM

How big is your tank?
Did you add anything besides the LR to create some ammonia?
How long ago did you start this process?
How old are the test kits?

I doubt it's the kits. If you didn't add anything to create some ammonia in the tank, you probably haven't cycled it yet. Depending on the condition of your LR, you may not cycle at all. Don't do a water change until you see the nitrates start to creep up.

new2reef2 · 12/28/2015, 12:40 PM

the tank is a 35 gallon with a approx 15 gallon sump. I did not add anything besides the LR for ammonia the test kits a few months old .the LR was straight from an established tank already. what step should i do next

Ron Reefman · 12/29/2015, 07:18 AM

Add something that will create some ammonia in the tank. Some people add some flake or frozen fish food, some add a small shrimp. Personally, I had some PURE ammonia be sure there is no surfactant added... it will be listed in the ingredients label which you want to say 100% ammonia) and added a small amount to the tank, waited 30 minutes and tested for ammonia. I got a low number so I added a second dose and 20 minutes later I had a good ammonia reading. The foods will decompose over time and you will get an ammonia spike that way as well, it just takes time. The ammonia level will go down and nitrate goes up. Then it will go down as nitrate will go up. Unless you do something the nitrate will remain in the tank.

At least that way you will be sure you have enough of the right bacterium to keep your tank moving forward. Given you may have good live rock, I'd add ammonia and test after it's had a chance to spread through the tank. You may already have the bacterium you need and the run from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate may happen over just a day or two. If your LR isn'r so 'alive' it may take the tank as long as a few weeks to run the process.

Then do a water change to reduce the nitrate and you are safely on your way.

new2reef2 · 12/29/2015, 01:13 PM

i have been feeding daily, going to check for ammonia again later in the week. The fire fish and CUC seem to be doing fine no losses yet.

Ron Reefman · 12/30/2015, 06:47 AM

You should be testing the tank every day for a week or so, until you are absolutely positive you aren't developing ammonia.

I'd assume you have had enough of a cycle to get started. But even I'd be testing the tank every day for 5 to 10 days.

12/27/2015, 09:56 PM	#1
new2reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 41	Bad test kit? Hello I am just wondering if my API test kit is bad. A week and a half ago I added 50lbs of LR to my new tank. Tested the parameters 48 hours later showing .25 ammonia and 0 nitrate and 0 nitrite. Yesterday I bought a clean up crew of about 20 snails 5 nassarius snails and 8 hermits. I also bought a fire fish. Today I tested again and it shows 0 ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrite. Shouldn't I be showin some nitrate and when should I do my first water change?

12/28/2015, 06:27 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	How big is your tank? Did you add anything besides the LR to create some ammonia? How long ago did you start this process? How old are the test kits? I doubt it's the kits. If you didn't add anything to create some ammonia in the tank, you probably haven't cycled it yet. Depending on the condition of your LR, you may not cycle at all. Don't do a water change until you see the nitrates start to creep up. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/29/2015, 07:18 AM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Add something that will create some ammonia in the tank. Some people add some flake or frozen fish food, some add a small shrimp. Personally, I had some PURE ammonia be sure there is no surfactant added... it will be listed in the ingredients label which you want to say 100% ammonia) and added a small amount to the tank, waited 30 minutes and tested for ammonia. I got a low number so I added a second dose and 20 minutes later I had a good ammonia reading. The foods will decompose over time and you will get an ammonia spike that way as well, it just takes time. The ammonia level will go down and nitrate goes up. Then it will go down as nitrate will go up. Unless you do something the nitrate will remain in the tank. At least that way you will be sure you have enough of the right bacterium to keep your tank moving forward. Given you may have good live rock, I'd add ammonia and test after it's had a chance to spread through the tank. You may already have the bacterium you need and the run from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate may happen over just a day or two. If your LR isn'r so 'alive' it may take the tank as long as a few weeks to run the process. Then do a water change to reduce the nitrate and you are safely on your way. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/30/2015, 06:47 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	You should be testing the tank every day for a week or so, until you are absolutely positive you aren't developing ammonia. I'd assume you have had enough of a cycle to get started. But even I'd be testing the tank every day for 5 to 10 days. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/28/2015, 12:40 PM	#3
new2reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 41	the tank is a 35 gallon with a approx 15 gallon sump. I did not add anything besides the LR for ammonia the test kits a few months old .the LR was straight from an established tank already. what step should i do next

12/29/2015, 01:13 PM	#5
new2reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 41	i have been feeding daily, going to check for ammonia again later in the week. The fire fish and CUC seem to be doing fine no losses yet.