How's my water

[Parzival]

Started out 2 weeks ago with 2 amano shrimp and a couple of tetras. I gave the tetras away yesterday. I picked up a test kit today and here are the results.

I think I read this as pH around 7.8, ammonia 2-4ppm (looked darker in real life), nitrite < 1 ppm, nitrate 0ppm

Seems like my filter is not quite established and still not ready for some fish?

This is a 6 gallon Fluval Edge.

I have not done any filter changes yet. I did a 20% water change yesterday. Should I change out the carbon and do another water change? Or just leave it alone?

I am thinking I do not want to try to directly alter the pH. I will test my tap water later. I do have a filtered water tap (carbon block filter) so I may test that, too.

[wesleydnunder]

Still cycling, not ready for fish yet.

Mark

[Totenkampf]

you should be reading 0ppm NH3 and NO2 before you can consider your tank as cycled, it is then that you will see NO3 as well. I would not do water changes or include carbon until this happens. you want the bacteria beds to establish and eat the waste products. the amano shrimp are probably not the best thing to cycle a tank, inverts can be picky about water quality. even with a tap water filer, make sure that you are using a chlorine / chloramine neutralizer.

[algarciajr]

+1

Still cycling, not ready for fish yet.

Mark

[Parzival]

Thank you for confirming my suspicions.

[Sea-agg09]

That or if you are using prime.... then none of your readings are right.

[Parzival]

Prime? You mean the starter bacteria stuff? Please explain :)

[eklikewhoa]

Seachem Prime is a de-chlorinator, it will give false readings.

I would say you are about halfway through your cycle.
Would not run carbon, now or ever, never saw the value of carbon being used on a regular.
small water changes is good and you should be fine continuing doing so.

[Totenkampf]

why would small WC be good when you are trying to cycle?

[eklikewhoa]

Spike in ammonia can be lethal to BB and cause the process to slow down.

[Totenkampf]

hmmm, now i know. i bet the bugs in my last fishless cycle are pissed then. 10% ammonium chloride holla

[eklikewhoa]

There was a few research articles that showed that the high content of NH3 inhibited the growth of BB and would suffocate it which would prolong the process.

I'll try and look for it later on and post it up when I find it.

[LooksLater]

Hey good info, Q. I would be interested in seeing that article, never heard that before but that makes sense. Thanks!

[eklikewhoa]

Trying to remember what I was looking up when I read those articles, it's been quite some time now but I'm sure it'll come back to me.

for the most part the articles mentioned that oxygenation and water movement throughout the tank helped or assisted in the cycling of the tank, all done fishless if I recall correctly. There was talk about NH3 reaching high levels which would inhibit the cycle process while doing small water changes during the process did not have ill effect but was a helpful method reducing a bit of the NH3 and allowing the BB to further establish.

[Totenkampf]

i guess it would make sense, life is about balance