tobruk
Member
I just got a negative for nitrites (twice in fact I double checked).
I filled the tank sometime in January I think. Months of watching and explaining what I knew of the cycle over and over again to my friends (who had finally come to the conclusion my wife and I liked an empty tank).
Saturday the frustration finally got me. Nitrites had stayed sky high the entire time. I suspected something was making the tank inhospitable to the nitrite to nitrate bacteria, low ph (7.8) or perhaps the nitrites were just too much.
I drained the tank to the sand bed, scooped half the sand bed aside drained that, then refilled. I was left with nitrites of .5 later rising to 1.0.
I then began adding ph buffer a few days ago. Today I went ahead and tossed in some supplements (calcium and coralvite).
I realize I shouldnt dose for things Im not testing for but after all this time I was at the "what the heck, if this doesnt work I can take the tank out back with a sledge" stage of enthusiasm
Anyways this afternoon it was positive for nitrites so it sure came about pretty quick. Im kinda giddy. Ok im gonna go test it again because I love that pretty blue color.
I filled the tank sometime in January I think. Months of watching and explaining what I knew of the cycle over and over again to my friends (who had finally come to the conclusion my wife and I liked an empty tank).
Saturday the frustration finally got me. Nitrites had stayed sky high the entire time. I suspected something was making the tank inhospitable to the nitrite to nitrate bacteria, low ph (7.8) or perhaps the nitrites were just too much.
I drained the tank to the sand bed, scooped half the sand bed aside drained that, then refilled. I was left with nitrites of .5 later rising to 1.0.
I then began adding ph buffer a few days ago. Today I went ahead and tossed in some supplements (calcium and coralvite).
I realize I shouldnt dose for things Im not testing for but after all this time I was at the "what the heck, if this doesnt work I can take the tank out back with a sledge" stage of enthusiasm
Anyways this afternoon it was positive for nitrites so it sure came about pretty quick. Im kinda giddy. Ok im gonna go test it again because I love that pretty blue color.
