David C

My tank has been going for a week with 4 molly's and 2 platy's and I've been using Stability to cycle. I know most people hate using fish for the cycling, but I listened to my brother and that's what he recommends (he has a 75g and a 220g). My question is, during daily water tests with an API master kit, the ammonia peaked at .35ppm and is down to .15ppm while nitrates have risen to 10ppm. Would you say that the tank is nearly cycled, I thought it would take at least 2-3 weeks but I don't know, that's why I'm asking. I didn't have a test kit when I set up my 10g so I don't have any experience with this. I hope I provided enough info for an answer.

Thanks

Shawnie

if you have no readings for nitrites yet, no its not nearly complete....Id bang up that nitrate bottle #2 really hard on a counter to mix up those crystals...then retest...if you still have a nitrate reading, maybe you are feeding them too much?? because ammonia turns to nitrites, then nitrites turn to nitrates..so having nitrates without ever having nitrites and still having ammonia, somethings not right ...goodluck!

jdhef

David

You don't mention Nitrites, but your ammonia should drop to zero and then the nitites will build. When the nitites finally drop to zero (and your ammonia should still be zero) you will have cycled.

When cycling my tank I checked for nitates (while I was still showing nitites) jsu to see if any had started to appear. My test showed a reading of 10. So I wasn't sure what the upper limit was supposed to be, so I checked the API booklet and noticed mention that sometimes your tap water has nitates in it. So I checked my tap water and sure enough, it was showing 10.

All I can tell you about knowing that you are near the end of your cycle is when you are absolutly 100% positive that the darn tank is never going to cycle, two days later it will finally finish!

Good luck and patience...(I know, it's hard to be patient)

David C

My nitrites are at 0ppm, and my nitrates started at 0ppm and slowly risen to its current reading of 10ppm. I figure I'd rather play it safe and wait an extra week than kill a poor little fishy. My wifey would kill me if I killed one due to inpatience

Shawnie

but you still have ammonia? thats freaky!!!! keep on going tho..your doing everything right with the daily water changes...your safe at 0 ammonia, nitrites, and under 20 nitrates...the fishies and the wifey will love you dearly

David C

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I've already fallen for these molly's and platy's... they are the friendliest little fish. I can't dip the test tube in the water without them swimming in the dang thing and they're constantly brushing up against my fingers and arms when I put in the new plants. They're just so darn cute.

BettaGirl92

I also have platys and a molly. (Used to have three, but my poor little guys got stuck to my filter intake)
Mine do the same thing, and i agree, they're very cute!

Good luck with your cycling.

Alessa

I know! my guppies do the same thing! I love livebearers, they are absolutely adorable!