confused by first test readings

[cooksalot]

hi all, i put in my LR yesterday...it was well estalished from a two year old 75 gallon tank. some tiny frags of coral, a few tiny feather dusters, algae, polyps and other stuff i don't know. i did my first round of tests on it just now, and i'm confused by the readings (keep in mind, i'm new to salt water, but very familiar with the testing kits from my FW aquarium).

pH - 7.8 (how should i bring this up?)
ammonia - .50
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 10
salt - 1.022

what's confusing me is the nitrate reading...i assumed it would be 0, and almost didn't even bother doing it. is this typical? i've never seen nitrates in my FW until way into a cycle.
thanks!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

What test kits are you using?

What kind of substrate are you using?

 

[cali_reef]

You can bring up the PH with Kalk. What are your Alk and Ca readings?

 

[cooksalot]

What test kits are you using?


What kind of substrate are you using?

aquarium pharmaceuticals

CarribSea aragonite (sp?)...it was dry, not LS, has been in my tank since last week, LR added yesterday.

i also changed my filtration yesterday when i added the LR...took out the sponge, bio balls and ceramic media that came with the AP and added some LR and chemi-pure.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

AP test kits are ok but not too accurate.

 

[cooksalot]

AP test kits are ok but not too accurate.

ok, thanks...fwiw, i had tested the water when i first set up the tank and nitrate, nitrite and ammonia were all at 0. ph was 7.8 (hasn't changed).

what brand do you recommend?

 

[Harif87]

If your LR was established then it would have the necessary nitrifying bacteria to turn ammo to nitrite-nitrate. Which means that by adding LR to your tank it should cycle it immediately and youll see nitrates. The ammo reading could be present because of overfeeding or a small dieoff.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Most people here use Salifert test kits.

 

[cooksalot]

thanks for the advice. here are today's tests...any input? words of wisdom? LR has been in since sunday, and came directly out of established tank. generally does the ammonia spike around day 3?

pH - 7.8
nitrite - 0
ammonia - looks like zero...opinions...yesterday it was .50
nitrate - 10

everything is the same as yesterday except the ammonia.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Is that the bottom of your tank in the back? Please tell me that's a FW tank.

 

[ssmtcarlo]

Did you use RODI, or distilled water when you set it up or tap water

 

[cooksalot]

Is that the bottom of your tank in the back? Please tell me that's a FW tank.

lol..did i scare ya?? yeah, that's my 10 gallon FW with my one little (very happy) betta in it.

 

[cooksalot]

Did you use RODI, or distilled water when you set it up or tap water

distilled