[QDanT]

Reverse osmosis Dionised Water @ 75*F
195gm Marine Salt = SG 1012
API ph test = 7.8
16/2/18
5ml API Quick Start (Nitrosoma and Nitrobacter Bacteria)
19/2/18
x10 drops Ammonium Chloride
API Ammonia test = 2 ppm
21/2/18
API Ammonia test = 1 ppm
28/2/18
API Ammonia test = 1 ppm
03/3/18
API Ammonia test = 0.50 ppm
API Nitrite test = 0.50 ppm
04/3/18
x5 drops Ammonium Chloride
API Ammonia test = 2 ppm
10/3/18
API Ammonia test = 0 ppm
API Nitrite test = 5 ppm +++ (off the scale)
API Nitrate test = 20 ppm

[odin]

Looks like you first set of bacteria is there converting the Ammonia to Nitrite but the 2nd set of bacteria needs to grow some more and this will pretty much instantly convert your Nitrites to Nitrates, a fully cycled tank will show 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrites and you will only get Nitrate readings.

If you do water changes you wont upset the bacteria as most of it lives in the substrate etc.

[QDanT]

Thanks for that I'll do a 50% today , would you add 1 or 2 drops Ammonium Chloride to feed the established Bacteria ?

[odin]

Sure.. you will have a Nitrogen cycle as powerful as bulldozer if you do it this way lol, The method you are using now is what we use for fish tanks as fish produce alot of waste and we need the bacteria ready for them when they get put in the tank. Some argue that you dont need that much for a shrimp tank as its over kill but its the correct way to do things. As i said in your other topic the shrimps only produce very little waste so the little they do produce will feed so much bacteria to keep up with what it needs and the rest will die off. Just be sure to keep an eye on Nitrates and reduce with water changes.

[QDanT]

I did a 50% water change 6 days ago and have not added any Ammonium Chloride.
tested today and the Nitrites are still off the scale

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the Nitrates look down a bit but that could be due to the water change.
I'll do another water change today and check again

[QDanT]

50% water change :-

16-3-18 23-30.JPG (53.04 KiB) Viewed 13922 times

So Nitrates are 0 but Nitrites still bonkers ???

[odin]

Yeah those Nitrites are way high lol, If you test 24 hours later what color is the Nitrate vial again?

[QDanT]

17-3-18.JPG (89.66 KiB) Viewed 13917 times

Don't know if the Nitrite Bacteria's working ? though the Nitrates came from somwhere ?
I cann't really afford PRODIBIO-BIODIGEST or find a Nano size supplier
Maybe I'll just wait another week

[odin]

If you test your Nitrates and its not zero you know both sets of bacteria are in your tank since the last water change and test result you showed above.

[QDanT]

17-3-18 Nitrate.JPG (89.17 KiB) Viewed 13880 times

I'll give it another 24 hours then test again