Dora

So my tank has been cycling for a while now, the fish seem fine and I haven't losts any through the whole process.. I'm still doing the daily water changes and checking with the API master test kit. I now have nitrite at about 1.0ppm, my ammonia is between .25 and .50 and I'm starting to see a bit of nitrates but not quite at 5.0 yet, my question is this: isn't the ammonia supposed to go to 0 and stay there? Why am I still finding ammonia? Is it that the nitrites haven't reached a high enough level yet? I realize the ammonia is nowhere near the 4.0ppm range that it used to be so that's progress but I know I'm supposed to have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and I'm not sure what the correct range of nitrates is. Do I keep doing what I'm doing and will it eventually level itself out? I'm feeding really sparingly and with the daily water changes there isn't much debris in the tank. I'm just REALLY ready for this to end so I can stop doing this every day. It will be really nice when I only have to do the water changes once a week! I'm glad the fish are all still alive but I'm getting a little tired of the whole thing. Any suggestions?

AlyeskaGirl

Hi!

Just keep doing water changes until ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate less then 20and you are doing good. Be patient.

Lucy

You're doing fine, really. Cycling with fish takes work (as you know), time and patience.

The fact that you have nitrates is a good sign and your diligence in water changes shows how much you care about your fish.

Hang in there, you're getting there.

agabr123

many people continue to see ammonia for a while into the nitrIte phase, it just means that there is still more bacteria growing and it hasn't quite caught up to the ammonia levels yet. not to worry, you're on the right track

Dora

Thank you for the encouraging words! I needed a little pep talk