Annabelle

I am currently in the process of cycling my QT and my main tank in preparation for getting fish. The main tank is going fine now but my QT has me very confused. It has been running for about a month now so it should technically be cycled (or at least pretty close to). When I set it up I used some filtered water that mum had and topped it up with some dechlorinated tap water. The filtered water had a nitrate reading of 10 to begin with (it had been sitting for a little while). That was odd in itself.
I started the cycle and ammonia climbed and then nitrites did (all was well). Here is the fun part. I tested the water a week or two ago and readings were as follows:- Ammonia - 1
Nitrite - 0.50
Nitrate - 10 (Nirates had gone up to 20 b4)
I tested the water again yesterday and here is what I got:-
Ammonia - 1
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
I have no idea what is going on. Is the tank cycled? I didnt think it should have ammonia if its cycled. I havent put anything new in the tank and certainly not anything living yet so if the tank was cycled there was nothing in it to raise the ammonia. Should I do a water change and retest or should I just change all the water completely? Its all very strange.

Shawnie

the tank is cycled when you have ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrates under 20..using water from a cycled tank, isnt much help..although it wont hurt...benficial bacteria for a cycled tank is on your filter media, decorations, or in the gravel...your still going throught the cycle

susitna-flower

What are you adding to put ammonia in the tank? This may seem silly, but are you running your filter? Is there gravel etc. in the tank?

Lastly, what kind of test are you using? Here we recommend the API Master test kit, as it is the most reliable. Your tests may be off....

Annabelle

I havent added anything to the tank and as far as I know my filter hasnt faltered. I have some large pebbles and some plastic plants and a plastic barrel decoration. Its only my QT so I didnt go all out with gravel in case of disease and the need the clean everything.
The test kit im using is a liquid master test kit (API stands for Aquarium Pharmecuticals Inc right?) and it has been reliable so far. I even did control tests of my tap water and it cam up as all 0's for the nitrogen products.
Shawnie, when I said filtered water, I didnt mean from another tank. I meant from the water filters that make water better for drinking. I was treating it as uncycled despite the Nitrates in it but its just wierd that the Nitrites went up and then back down while the Ammonia seems to have plateaued. Ive never had that happen before.
I will however treat it as not fully cycled and give it more time and tests. I have some filter wool from a partially cycled tank. Would it help to put some of that in my filter?
Thanx for all your help so far. You guys have all been great!

Shawnie

Yes that filter wool will help it go faster ...goodluck!