jwokmuba2

well first off i have been cycling my tank for since july 14, when i notice my ammonia was going down three days ago i tested for nitrite and nitrate, my readings were, ammonia 2, nitrite .5, nitrate 10, the next day ammonia 1, nitrite 1, and nitrate 15. day three ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20.

since my ammonia was at 0 i added enough to bring it back up to 4 PPM, i did this at 1 am today, 8/5, when i got home from work, around 6 o'clock my readings are ammonia 0, nitrite .25, nitrate 20.


i either missed or never had a nitrite spike, im not sure, please help me out!

zowie717

the time sounds about right to me. i have cycled tanks, fishless, in a couple days with filter media from another establish tank. it seems like your nitrites were dropping like they should and nitrate rising, but I would not add ammonia to it anymore. i am not sure about the nitrite spike you had today, that may because you added the ammonia. your day 3 readings were right on and i would considered the tank cycled, but hopefully others on here can suggest what to do since you add ammonia. you had the readings so i would let it go a couple days and continue your tests and should see the readings you at zero, zero, and 20

jwokmuba2

agian, i NEVER had the nitrite spike or i NEVER SAW it, i only added ammonia in the tank once on july 14, then three days ago my first sign of nitrite and nitrate showed up, when the ammonia dropped to 0 i added more thinking thats what i was supposed to do. is it possible that there was no spike and that the tank is fully cycled without a water change

zowie717

here are the instructions for an ammonia fishless cycle. in my 60 gallon i did not have a major nitrite spike. what matters is that you had them as you clearly indicated you did with your test. this should help answer your questions as it is very detailed.


http://http://www.fishlore.com/fishf...ess-cycle.html

zowie717

Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle sorry put an extra http in there

Brimstonepdx

I never saw my nitrite spike when I cycled my first time either. I wouldn't worry about that, you must have had some at some point since your Nitrate went from 10 to 20. It looks to me like your cycled the only advise that I can give is to maybe triple test it to make sure it reads true each time since those Nitrate tests can be tricky if you don't shake it long enough

jwokmuba2

thanks, the reason my nitrate went from 10 to 20 is because i added ammonia which then produced nitrite, then nitrate. but as far as i can tell im cycled, unless anyone else wants to add some input.

Lucy

It looks it.
When you added ammonia did the ammonai and nitrite reading drop to 0 within 12-24 hours?

jwokmuba2

it took it 17 hours to process 4 ppm of ammonia, so yes it did, but will i have to do a water change?

aquarist48

It sounds good to me as well. I suggest a water change at this point, check your readings and if all is well I'd say you're ready to add some fish. Be sure to shake and beat those test kit bottles on the counter to make sure they are mixed well before doing your tests. It you come out with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5-10 (some say 5-20) nitrates then you're cycled.
Ken

Lucy

Yay! A cycled tank!
Like Aquarist said, do good water change and you're ready for fish.
Make sure you only add a few fish at a time so you don't overwhelm the bacteria.

ABCDemily

Congrats, all cycled! Some people never see a nitrite spike, I didn't, and I'm all cycled

ATKINSON

Your tank looks cycled to me!