Great commentary around the testing - I remember as a beginner, finding it hard to figure out what to test, when, and what action to take - if any - based on the test results. Clear and well-explained! 👍🏻👍🏻
I use API for my ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates, and red sea for my Calcium, alk, mag and phosphates. Cool info on the testing. Its neat to see the salifert.
Hey SC, you know for testing during the cycle, it's super easy, just sort of a pain matching certain colors. Because I test everyday during the cycle, API makes it convenient. I use Red Sea to test major trace elements. Thanks for the post!
Just subscribed and ty. I'm cycling my 2nd tank. Ever. And I used a shrimp and ghost fed for about 2 weeks ammonia spiked. Never saw the nitrite spike let it sit another week and I have nitrate! Does this mean I'm done cycling and ready for a fish or possible hermit crab. Nitrate isnt too high. It's a biocube 16. I was excited to use a test kit this time around but i dindt test every day so never saw the nitrite raise. Ammonia is low and nitrate is at an ok range. Should I do a small water change then introduce a fish. It's been 3 weeks cycling
@@ReeferGil sounds perfect. That's what I did with my first tank and no problems. And I never tested the water ! Happy I'm doing things like a pro this time. Thanks for all your info. Please check out my channel If you and your family want a meatless Monday recipe that tastes like home
I was confused on my api kit too. I thought I was at zero amonia and nitrates so I did the 24 test run to convert the amoni and when I id that it shot my nitrates back up. Is that normal? Did you do that? I Wonder if I should o a water change and add fish or see if it lowers my nitrates to zero. I doubt if it will, becuse they shot prett high and once when I di a change during cycle (bad advice ) it didnt change nitrites. It also lowered my ph so I guess iam not ready and waiting for nirites to fall agin. It so hard to distinguish fro 0 to 0.25 on an api kit for amonia. Also someone said a blue that looked like my blue today was actually 0.25 nitrite, maybe I should get a brighter blue than today but I dint see any purple iin it
Maybe me , but never had a tank where the nitrates went down without doing huge water changes after the cycle, I would assume ur nitrates should be at 40-50ppm after the cycle,
5ml in a "beaker" can be achieved several ways, I used a 2ml syringe. A method I've used for 6 years. Maybe you can better explain your comment so I can understand it?
ReeferGil you didn't have a pipette tip on the syringe, therefore there will be no air gap below the plunger when draw it up. To get an accurate volume using a syringe with no pipette tip, you should draw the plunger up a small amount, then put it in the liquid and draw the plunger all the way up until the level of liquid in the syringe is at the volume you wish to use. The liquid will be slightly U shaped, the bottom of the U should sit on the line you are measuring. Great channel and build by the way, been following for a while.
Ah, ok you're talking about the 1ml syringe for the ammonia test? My Red Sea test kit came with clear, red and blue tips for the syringes while the Salifert test kit for the ammonia did not. There is a small amount of air below the plunger. You'll see it for a split second in the video. Thanks for clarifying and REALLY appreciate the support. Thanks Greg!
