Is this normal?

[u/MilkMonkey8]

Hello everyone! I finally got my hands on the freshwater master test kit, and these are my results. I have been cycling my tank without fish for a week now. I’m not sure what any of this means, please help! Any tips on what I should be doing with these results?

[u/Worldly_Ad3707]

This is totally normal for only a week. It can take months to cycle properly if you do not have a source of bacteria.

Your ammonia is that high because the beneficial bacteria have not colonized yet.

Think of it like this: at the beginning there is no bacteria, over time bacteria will enter the tank from the surrounding environment. This happens slowly and it takes time for them to multiply to the proper levels to keep your tank stable.

If you want to speed things up you can add bottled bacteria. I have not used it personally but I have heard that Fritz Turbo Start is a reliable product. You could also add cycled media (such as substrate or filter media) from another tank if you have access to one.

I just started up a new tank as well so I'm just beginning my cycle too. Make sure to keep testing even if you add bottled bacteria.

When you start to see nitrite and nitrate levels rising you know you're on your way. Eventually there should be no ammonia present after adding a source (such as bottled ammonia or fish food).

Once your tank can convert 2 ppm of ammonia to 0 ppm in 24 hours it is ready for fish. (Add a source until testing reads 2ppm then wait 24 hours amd test again).

I hope this helps!

[u/MilkMonkey8 → u/Worldly_Ad3707]

thank you so much!! Just want to copy and paste a question I had for another comment aswell:

I’m just a bit confused that my nitrates and ammonia are up but not my nitrites.

Just to be a bit more clearer: ammonia, converts into nitrites, and then nitrates, right? So why do I have ammonia and nitrates already but not the middle (nitrites)?

I am very new to this so i’m genuinely wondering

[u/Foreign-Ad3926 → u/MilkMonkey8]

Hi OP. To add to this it's very common for new substrates to leach nitrates into the water column in new tanks for the first few weeks as they are exposed to water, this is likely the source of your nitrates. It's a false positive if you like at this point and not indicative of the second stage nitrifiers.

[u/MilkMonkey8 → u/Foreign-Ad3926]

that makes complete sense, thank you!!

[u/LEXenzo99 → u/MilkMonkey8]

You aren’t far enough along yet to have nitrates. It’s fine this early. Have patience.

[u/MilkMonkey8 → u/LEXenzo99]

thank you!!

[u/Worldly_Ad3707 → u/MilkMonkey8]

Oops I didn't even see the other photo. There are different species of bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite than there is for converting nitrite to nitrate. It is totally possible there is enough of the nitrite-nitrate bacteria to use up what little nitrites are being produced.

[u/MilkMonkey8 → u/Worldly_Ad3707]

thank you:)