b0ooger wrote:
My first suggestion to you is to test out your test kit to make sure it is
reading correctly. I have seen lots of "bad" test kits that would read
low levels even if non are present. The ammonia staying level for 11 days
does seem a little strange to me


Why is this strange? Every tank is different and there are many variables
than can influence ammonia levels. As long as the ammonia doesn't continue
to climb, he is OK. Because his ammonia level is no longer climbing this is
an indication that his nitrosomonas are beginning to do their job.

After a few days of low ammonia/nitrite levels the die off on the rock
comes to a stop so the production of ammonia drops not increases, so if
the bacteria is able to eat the current ammount of ammonia, and there is
extra the bacteria should be able to reproduce, so the next day it can
eat more ammonia causing the level to drop. With the amount of live he
is finding in his tank, the die off is pretty much completely done so
the ammonia production should have decreased conciderably so unless his
bacteria is dieing off (which would be strange) is readings are not correct.





, it should be going down. With the other life doing good in the tank, it
makes me think that you really do not have an ammonia problem (not that .25
is a problem.) My real question is what has happened to your nitrite and
Nitrate levels?


I suggested testing nitrates several days ago, but Pzemol dumped on me for
the suggestion. I think he should definitely be monitoring BOTH nitrite and
nitrate and obtaining nitrate by difference.

I would be more interested in nitrite readings than nitrate, if the
nitrite has peaked and then dropped the nitrite eating bacteria have
grown enough to consume the amount of nitrite being produced so unless
another ammonia or nitrite source is added to the aquarium both ammonia
and nitrite should drop down to close to zero. With the life in the
tank doing well, it has to be close to zero, so his main cycle is done.






Has your nitrite level gone up? If so you have the ammonia eating bacteria
and so your ammonia level should have peaked some time after you started
seeing nitrite and then started dropping down. If your nitrate level is
climbing you not only have the ammonia eating bacteria but the nitrite
eating bacteria also, so your cycle should be getting very close to being
done.

A question for you are you adding anything to the tank right now? Some
additives can cause false ammonia readings.


Such as?





If he was adding any type of a ammonia/nitrite/nitrate reducing agent,
like amquel prime etc, it does not remove the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate,
it binds it up so it is non toxic, and so that the bacteria have a much
harder time consuming it, so you will detect ammonia in your test even
though it is not available to the tank, which will increase the time of
your cycle since the bacteria are not able to consume the ammonia.

Kim