my first water test

[chadman]

i just did my first ammonia,nitrate and nitrite tests...the results came back ammonia .25, nitrate .25, nitrite 20....i have had my tank set up about three weeks...i do not really know exactly what these results mean and if anything should be done about them.... i have upwards of 50 lbs of lr, crushed 20lbs of crushed coral and 20lbs of live sand....oh and its a 30g tank....i have a number of fish living in the tank already because when i first got started my lfs totally led me astray...but i am back...i have six fish,one cleaner shrimp ,ten hermits two mexican turbo snails and two other snails....

 

[aquaria]

Your tank had a water reading spike.
this is a good thing
if the ammo goes any higher you inverts will most likely die.
i also suggest putting in some anti-ammo/nitrite solution.
so far so good though
wait another 3 week b4 putting in any big time fish

 

[chadman]

are there any products u suggest over others? would they help my tank cycle faster?

 

[chadman]

i am having a some what major problem with what appears to be algae....it is brown and forms on the glass and floor and lr....its ugly!

 

[drew2005]

I wouldnt suggest adding any chemicals to your tank. Let it cycle on its on. You said you have 6 fish. Can you bring them back to your LFS to hold until your cycle is complete? You may be fully stocked already. What kind of fish do you have in there? If i remember correctly your tank is only 2 weeks old. No way it cycled that fast. You have at least 2 more weeks. If your ammonia and nitrite get any higher your fish are not going to make it.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by drew2005
I wouldnt suggest adding any chemicals to your tank. Let it cycle on its on. You said you have 6 fish. Can you bring them back to your LFS to hold until your cycle is complete? You may be fully stocked already. What kind of fish do you have in there? If i remember correctly your tank is only 2 weeks old. No way it cycled that fast. You have at least 2 more weeks. If your ammonia and nitrite get any higher your fish are not going to make it.
I agree with this post.
If you cannot bring them back to the LFS, get some Turbo Start for your tank to bring those levels down and finish the cycle out faster.