aquarium question

[DUKE_LADUKE]

@toomanycamaros

at what point should I start to worry about the amonia concentration in the tank. I measured ammonia, nitrite and nitrate Friday and the ammonia was about 1.5 ppm. nitrite was very low and no trace of nitrates yet. I changed about 9 gallons of water yesterday with a vaccum siphon. I’m going to test the tank again tomorrow. I know that ideally there should be 0 ammonia once the bacteria gets established and the tank is fully cycled, but at what point do I need to start doing partial water changes every other day.

you have to get the bacteria to grow in there . If you do water changes now you will be just taking out the bacteria and you will never cycle out the tank . Just let it go for a month . The ammonia will reach about 1.5 @ the highest . Then the nitrite will reach about 1.5-2.0 then both will drop and nitrate will form .