Water testing questions

[gswarri0rfan]

Hey everyone

I have familiarize myself with the nitrogen cycle. I just found out that my test strips for freshwater works with saltwater as well, but it does not contain readings for ammonia. It has readings for the following: nitrate (20), nitrite(0), alkalinity(180), and ph (8.2). All levels are in okay and ideal descriptions.
My question is if my level for nitrite is in safe conditions, (at 0) does that mean that the aquarium has already established both bacterias that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrates? Is it safe to assume that my aquarium is finishing up its cycle?

The fish tank has been cycling for almost a month and I added damsels to it, a week after setting it up (I know there are other ways, but I read about the shrimp and LR strategy after I bought the damsels). There are so much diatoms in the tank. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Reefscape]

Hey everyone

I have familiarize myself with the nitrogen cycle. I just found out that my test strips for freshwater works with saltwater as well, but it does not contain readings for ammonia. It has readings for the following: nitrate (20), nitrite(0), alkalinity(180), and ph (8.2). All levels are in okay and ideal descriptions.
My question is if my level for nitrite is in safe conditions, (at 0) does that mean that the aquarium has already established both bacterias that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrates? Is it safe to assume that my aquarium is finishing up its cycle?

The fish tank has been cycling for almost a month and I added damsels to it, a week after setting it up (I know there are other ways, but I read about the shrimp and LR strategy after I bought the damsels). There are so much diatoms in the tank. Thanks in advance for any input.

First and foremost, get rid of the test strips as they are VERY innacurate. Either purchase a liquid saltwater test kit, or take some water samples to a LFS to get it re-checked.

Looking the numbers, at face value, there is a good possibility that your cycle has completed. However, a little more info on the nitrates is needed. What did the nitrates rise up too (max ppm) and how long has the nitrates been sitting at 20ppm?

Diatoms are fine, albeit a pain, but they will go of their own accord in time.

 

[gswarri0rfan]

Getting a second opinion is a gud idea. There was a time, like last week when nitrates measured at 40ppm but it went down to 20 ppm yesterday when I checked it. I am also seeing progress on the diatoms. The first live rock to ever get diatoms in the tank is in the process of losing it already. The rock looks more clearer now. Should I wipe down the diatoms on the glass and what about the diatoms on the sand? Should I leave them the way they are? Also, there are some really small white dots crawling or moving in the LR? Is that common?

 

[BIGgourami]

First and foremost, get rid of the test strips as they are VERY innacurate. Either purchase a liquid saltwater test kit, or take some water samples to a LFS to get it re-checked.

LFS's mostly use test strips themselves

 

[Reefscape]

LFS's mostly use test strips themselves

Not where i live they dont, none of them use test strips because they advocate how innacurate they are. I would not trust a LFS to test water if that is what they use.

 

[Reefscape]

Getting a second opinion is a gud idea. There was a time, like last week when nitrates measured at 40ppm but it went down to 20 ppm yesterday when I checked it. I am also seeing progress on the diatoms. The first live rock to ever get diatoms in the tank is in the process of losing it already. The rock looks more clearer now. Should I wipe down the diatoms on the glass and what about the diatoms on the sand? Should I leave them the way they are? Also, there are some really small white dots crawling or moving in the LR? Is that common?

From your numbers, it does sound your getting towards the end of the cycle, and the receding diatoms is usually indicative of this also.

Yes, just use an algae scraper to remove it from the glass. Diatoms on the sand will be taken care of by the cleanup crew when you add them, so i would not worry too much about it.

The small dots your refering to will be pods, nothing to worry about, just part of the life in the marine tank. These will ebb and flow depending on nutrient levels and are a valuable food source for some fish.

 

[BIGgourami]

Not where i live they dont, none of them use test strips because they advocate how innacurate they are. I would not trust a LFS to test water if that is what they use.

dam the american capitolist pigs!