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As you can see in my logbook, I have recently started cylcing my 29 gallon saltwater aquarium. I added a base of substrate is about 0.5 inches of CribSea Florida Crushed Coral (roughly 8 lbs). The substrate is then topped off with 30 lbs of CaribSea Aragonite. I spiked the tank with ammonia on 12/13/05. The ammonia level rose to 0.5 ppm.

On 12/14/05, I spiked the water even more. (Don't ask why, I am still trying to figure it out myself It seems foolish in hindsight) My ammonia level then rose to 3.5 ppm.

Currently, my levels are as follows:

pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 3.0
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 10.0
Temp: 27.5
SG: 1.0223

I, honestly, just don't understand HOW I already have nitrates! It seems WAAAY too early to be registering nitrates. Do you all agree? Is it possible that the Oceanic Salt mix has nitrites and nitrates in it? I am just confused because I have NEVER had an aquarium cylce that quickly! Thanks


-Josh

Oceanic shouldn't be giving you nitrites or nitrates...

Test the water from your tap.

And how did you "spike" the ammonia?


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I tested the tap, there is nothing in the tap. I spiked the water with a solution I made up a few years ago (that I've spiked my freshwater tanks with). I don't remember the exact concentration of the ammonia solution but I created it out of a stock ammonia solution from the lab I work at. Needless to say, it's a pure ammonia source.

Just thought of something! The bottle has been sitting around for a few years (tightly sealed), is it possible that the nitrites and nitrates are from bacteria in the bottle? However, the bottle is always kept in a dark place so I don't think the bateria would survive, would they?

-Josh

Jmara,
even in the utter dark, where there is a food source,
bacteria may develop.
It is *possible* that you have created purely by accident your own kind of Biospira.
I would test some directly out of the bottle for nitrItes and NitrAtes and that should give you your answer.
Otherwise I would start wondering if your tests are faulty.
There *usually* wont be ammonia and nitrAtes in a tank at the same time during cycling.



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Well I just tested the "spike solution"...

It didn't show any nitrite or nitrate. Surprisingly, the concentration of the solution is only 0.5 mg/L. I guess I've diluted it so many times that it's very diltute.

Last edited by jmara at 16-Dec-2005 17:45

-Josh