Hi! New here, I am currently trying to cycle my tank. I have a 5g Fluvial Spec and have gotten (I think) everything I need. As for as water care I purchased the Tetra Safe Start and dumped the bottle in as the instructions told me to do to grow beneficial bacteria (yes I understand the nitrogen cycle, quite well), and have dechlorinated and all that. This is day 2 of the tank up and running and have tested my water for the 2nd time to day to see how things are moving along and got some weird results....(I am using the API Freshwater Master Test Kit)
Ammonia: In between 0 ppm and 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: In between 0 ppm and 5.0 ppm
I added in live plants yesterday, 7 anubias nana petite, 3 moss balls and 3 amazon swords, which I assume is accounting for the ammonia because there are some dead leaves, which I am fine with for now since it is an ammonia source for the cycling, but why are my nitrates where they are??? I was waiting for the nitrites spike from the TSS and the ammonia and then the nitrates spike but I read that that would take several days? Did the nitrites spike happen between the 8 hours I was asleep and didn't test my waters, is that really possible...? Did the TSS really work, and that fast, or is it something else?
Also should I add pure ammonia to fishless cycle and speed up the process and will that hurt my plants and how much? Sorry for all the questions, just slightly confused!!
Ammonia: In between 0 ppm and 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: In between 0 ppm and 5.0 ppm
I added in live plants yesterday, 7 anubias nana petite, 3 moss balls and 3 amazon swords, which I assume is accounting for the ammonia because there are some dead leaves, which I am fine with for now since it is an ammonia source for the cycling, but why are my nitrates where they are??? I was waiting for the nitrites spike from the TSS and the ammonia and then the nitrates spike but I read that that would take several days? Did the nitrites spike happen between the 8 hours I was asleep and didn't test my waters, is that really possible...? Did the TSS really work, and that fast, or is it something else?
Also should I add pure ammonia to fishless cycle and speed up the process and will that hurt my plants and how much? Sorry for all the questions, just slightly confused!!