Quick Package 1 Question

[justinmcleod]

I received my Package #1 on Monday, which was awesome, and my ammonia tests come back below .5, but my nitrates hover between 5-10 ppm. Does this sound correct? Can I have elevated nitrates but no real ammonia problem? My water changes have brought the nitrates down from 20 ppm, but I just want to make sure my ammonia test kit is OK. Thanks for any help, and I will be baiting my mantis shrimp traps shortly!

 

[divemonster]

Which ammonia test kit are you using? What is the expiration date on it? I use the API ammonia test kit and it got me through cycling 2 tanks. I did not worry about nitrates until I had cycled both parts of the package.

If you change your water with ammonia under 1.0 you may prolong your cycle.

 

[justinmcleod]

Thanks, I will check the expiration date, but I think it is under a year old. I read up on the nitrates issue and it doesn't seem that serious at this stage.

 

[noahm]

Sounds normal to me. Just watch the ammonia for now. Honestly, 5-10 ppm is pretty common even in an established tank.

Don't think you can slide by w/o pics..

 

[shadowbearwv]

Yes we want pics hehe!

Also the ammonia sounds fine. I just got my package Saturday and the only thing I'm reading at the moment is about .25 mg/l of Nitrite. I have some plants and cyano in the refugium sucking up the nitrates.

SB