Water test results

[nacho]

Hi everyone,

I am in the middle of cycling my 10 gallon. I tested the water today and got these results.

pH: >7.6
ammonia (NH3): ~0.35 ppm
nitrite (NO2-): ~0.20 ppm
nitrate (NO3-): ~3 ppm

Based on my limited understanding of water quality, I believe I must do a water change at this point? I am unsure of what to do knowing those test results. FYI, I have three plants in the tank: two java ferns (which are both doing rather poorly) and one giant anubias.

I would appreciate any help with the water quality, plants, or anything else.

- n

edit:
Additional information: I, against my better judgment, was coerced into buying a bottle of TLC Aquarium Optimizer ("living" bacteria to help the cycling process), and dumped a bit of it in about a week ago. That's all I did. I couldn't find ammonia, so I resorted to the bottled bacteria juice. So there's nothing but that, Prime-treated water, plants and gravel in my tank.

[soleilvie]

Hmm, not quite. Don't do a water change yet. Ammonia and nitrite need to be 0 (or go from whatever number to 0 within 12-16 hours) before you do a water change. When that happens, nitrates should be very high (like above 20).

[nacho]

Okay, I won't. Thank you.

Do people think I should add a source of ammonia at this point, like a couple of dried bloodworms?

[Oldfishlady]

What kind of water test are you using? strips or liq reagent type
What kind of filter
You need some type of ammonia source to feed the bacteria
IMO using fish food can cause more problems, since you can't find ammonia you can use raw shrimp tied to a string or in a nylon or something and keep your ammonia level at 3-5ppm
How long have you been cycling
What kind of lights and your watts per gallon (wpg) and how old are the bulbs
What is your stocking plan
Fishless cycle you don't need to make water changes

[nacho]

I am using an API testing kit.
Lustar sponge filter
Exactly 1 week
2 10W Coralife bulbs. Total 2W/gall
Exactly 1 betta fish

[xxabc]

Wait, are you doing fish-in cycle ?

[nacho]

Fishless.

[xxabc]

But you have a betta-fish. Unless it's somewhere else.

[nacho]

Originally Posted by xxabc

But you have a betta-fish. Unless it's somewhere else.

I was answering one of Oldfishlady's questions, which was "What is your stocking plan," and I answered, one betta fish.

[xxabc]

Oh, okay.