jadednightdragon

Hi everyone!

This tank has been setup for about three days now and here are the readings:

pH: 7.2
ammonia 0ppm
nitrate: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm

What I have in the tank:
Fish
1 Dojo loach
1 Clown Loach
1 Dwarf Oto
4 White Tetras
4 Scissor rosabarbs
6 Bleeding heart tetras

Plants
1 White Sandriana
2 Radician Sword
2 Amazon Sword

The tank is a 55 gallon long.
The gravel came from my cycled 35 gallon.

I have a 20 filter on it (I'm saving up to get a 70 filter)

Is my tank cycled?

rainman

No, it takes about a month for your tank to cycle. You made a mistake; you should have waited for about a month until you added any fish. You should check out the beginners guides to learn how to tell when your tank is cycled which is also known as the Nitrogen Cycle and how to speed up the process. Your fish are in danger of ammonia spikes unless you have another cycled tank to put them into while your tank cycles.

jadednightdragon

I don't have another tank. Should I take tests everyday and do a 50% water change until it cycles?

Butterfly

No your tank is not cycled. Cycling with fish will take approx 6-8 weeks because you will have to do frequent water changes to keep ammonia down so your fish will survive. ammonia should spike in about two days or so. When It's cycled you will have ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and Nitrates about 20.
what are you using to test your water ?
Here are some articles that will help you make sense of cycling your tank. Especially the one on the nitrogen cycle.
Fishlore Articles for Beginners
i hate to be the bearer of bad news but the White sandriana isn't an aquatic plant. It is Dracena sandrina which is a terresterial plant frequently sold by LFS as aquatic but isn't. Sorry.
Carol

rainman

Thats about the best you can do right now. I added some links, so if you refresh your page you can check them out.

mathas

Yes, until you see 0ppm on ammonia and nitrite, and 0-20ppm on nitrates. It's the presence of nitrates without any ammonia or nitrites that's what you're looking for. Make sure to use a dechlorinator like Prime when adding new water.

That said, if you took gravel from an established tank, it shouldn't take as long to cycle as a brand new tank would. You hopefully transferred some of the bacteria with that gravel.

rainman

So keep posting information and questions about your tanks so the moderators and other users can help you. I wish you luck.

jadednightdragon

Thanks, I'm reading all the beginner stickys from the forum. If get a 0 reading for my ammonia and nitrites do I have to do a water change that day? I'm using API Freshwater master test kit.

Butterfly

Thats a great first step.
No if ammonia and nitrites are both 0 you do not have to do water changes that day.
In my opinion thats the best testing supplies you can get and the kind most of us around here recommend.
Carol

rainman

"In my opinion thats the best testing supplies you can get and the kind most of us around here recommend."
Carol

Yes, it’s a good thing that you found a master test kit, because they are sometimes hard to find.

jadednightdragon

the store I go to (Petland Discounts) usually has everything for freshwater tanks. Though their not that knowledgable.

rainman

Where’s that?

jadednightdragon

long island ny, USA

rainman

yes, I checked it out online, it's a realy nice medium sized chain, over a hundred stores. Has a realy nice website to.