Big_jpb2006

Hi
Ok so with all the great help my tank needs maybe 2 more water changes and it will be cycled, here is my question though. I did my pH it was good but i need to test nitrite and ammonia but is it ok if my nitrate level is reading 0. i checked it and its still at 0 is that good or bad.

Thanks
Justin

Lucy

Unless your tank is heavily planted, you won't have 0 nitrates in a cycled tank.

Big_jpb2006

so its probably not done cycling but to tell that i should probably check nitrites and ammonia right

Lucy

Right, it's probably not cycled. With out knowing your ammonia or nitrite readings, it's impossible to tell how far along you are.

How long has the tank been set up?
If I remember correctly, the pleco is no longer in your tank?
What source of ammonia are you using?

Sorry for all the questions, it would help if this info was in your aquarium info. You can edit it under my settings at the top of the page.

Big_jpb2006

i was using food but i have been putting nothing in there now for 4 days its been cycling for about 8 days now, ammonia and nitrite should be 0 right? I also have been doing 20 to 50% water changed for 3 days now.

Lucy

Hmmm, ok, no fish in the tank?

I might be wrong, but I don't think you have a good understanding of how the nitrogen cycle works.

In order for the benefical bacteria to develop, there needs to be a source of ammonia.

Assuming you have no fish in the tank:
Add a pinch of fish food everyday.
First your ammonia will rise.
In a few weeks you'll see the nitrite levels rise and the ammonia levels start to drop.
After a few more weeks you'll see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels drop.
When you having readings of 0 on both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, your cycle is done.

During a fish less cycle, you don't have to do water changes.

If there are fish in the tank, their waste and leftover food creates the ammonia.
Ammonia is toxic to your fish so you'll have to do daily water changes to keep the toxic levels of ammonia and eventually nitrites down.
You can use Prime as your water conditioner, this will detox the ammonia for 24 hrs between water changes.

Big_jpb2006

ill go buy ammonia test and nitrite and get back to ya

Big_jpb2006

ok here it is
1. Nitrate- 0
2. Ammonia-.50
3. Nitrite-0
4. Ph-7.6

tell me what you think

Lucy

Your tank isn't cycled. I still don't know if there's fish in the tank or not.
It's in the beginning stage.

Big_jpb2006

its not cycled what the heck ive had this thing up for like 8 days now and water changes its cleared up ALOT so i still have along time to go and there is no fish in there

agabr123

yeah, unfortunately the cycling process can take quite a long time. it took me about a month and a half to cycle my 10 gallon.

since there are no fish i'd suggest not doing any more water changes until you're ready to add your fish. it will just slow things down even more

Big_jpb2006

Alright so when i go to add fish i should do like a 50% water change and the ammonia will read 0 right when its cycled but the nitrites will be high than those to will also begin to fall

Lucy

I've edited your post, please no cursing. It's against the rules, as we're a family friendly site. Thanks.

Please read my post # 6.
A tank doesn't cycle in 8 days, it takes weeks before it's safe for fish.

If you cycle fish less you don't have to change the water. Don't add fish until the ammonia and nitrites are reading 0 with some nitrates showing.
I know it's a long time and very frustrating. It takes a lot of patience.

agabr123

you're cycled when ammonia and nitrite are both zero and you have 5-20 nitrates, then you should do a 50% water change, wait a day, test again just to make sure your levels are still the same (0 ammonia 0 nitrite slightly less nitrate than before the change) and then you can add fish.

but, make sure you add them slowly. what fish are you planning on getting?

Big_jpb2006

ok so is the ammonia gonna start going up and how many times should i check that everyday or every other day and when thats at 0 the nitrites will be going up than they to will start to go down than the nitrates will go up or remain 0 i have 3 plants

I really dont know i want a very colorful fish for my tank its a 20 what kind of cichlids are good and wont over power the tank

agabr123

i wouldn't check every day, maybe every four or five days.

you won't necessarily have 0 ammonia then 0 nitrite then 5-20 nitrate, you'll probably see some ammonia at first and no nitrite, then some ammonia and some nitrite, then some ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, then eventually you'll see 0 ammonia, then after that probably 0 nitrite.

the nitrAtes will continue to rise, and that's why you do weekly or bi-weekly water changes, to keep the nitrates below 20, preferably closer to ten.

3 plants isn't enough to keep your nitrates down significantly, you'd need a VERY heavily planted tank to do that, but it IS possible. even so, you still need to do water changes in order to get minerals and all sorts of other good things into the tank.

Big_jpb2006

Alright Thanks again for your help

Lucy Sorry for cursing haha just got a little upset i have been spending alot of money on this hobbie thanks for your help to SORRY

Lucy

No problem.
When I first started it took forever to understand the nitrogen cycle. I was like !
I read it and re-read it and asked tons of questions. Then one day it clicked.

Hang in there

bryan87

one thing you could do is add tetra safestart. you can add fish on the first day then. i wouldn't say you would be able to have chiclids in a 20 gal but i could be wrong. i would send steveangela1 a measage as they are very good with chiclids.