mcdonald.kk

My API test kit just arrived and I wanted to post my first full set of test results. My tank has been cycling for a little over two weeks.
Ammonia: 0 ppm, Nitrite: 1.0 ppm, Nitrate: 5.0 ppm, pH: between 6.8-7.0

Is my tank starting to cycle? I know that at the end my nitrates should be really high and ammonia and nitrites at zero. My water is a little on the acid side of things because of the mopani wood that I have. I'm trying to set up an amazon blackwater environment. I plan on keeping a school of tetras =) My tank is 20 gal. I have live plants and my light is 15 watts but with a plant-friendly spectrum. I plan on upgrading my lighting in the next week or two. How long should I keep my light on for? I already have some algae and don't want to make it worse.

Firecracker

I don't think it's fully cycled until the nitrates have dropped, too. They are also toxic to fish just not as much as ammonia or nitrites. I'm at about the same point with my test results and I'm going to give it another week or two. Mine's been cycling for longer but it's bigger.

mcdonald.kk

Cool. It's good to know that its finally started to cycle. I'm more than happy to wait it out. I just wanted someone's opinion that it has finally started to do something.

Firecracker

Well I'm certainly no expert, but I think I am remembering what I read correctly. Some others will chime in soon I'm sure.

HatchetHaven

mcdonald.kk

I have another question...I have a snail problem at the moment although it is not yet an infestation. People recommend a yo-yo loach. Others say I should get at least 3 yo-yos. If I got 3 yo-yo loaches would I still be able to have a school of neons or would my tank be overstocked?

lilsoccakid

nitrates can never be 0, because fish are constantly creating ammonia, which is turned into nitrites and then nitrates. when a tank is cycled, their are only nitrates.

for your tank, you want to keep nitrates below 20ppm. nitrates are only toxic in very large amounts

HatchetHaven

mcdonald.kk

I have. At the moment the snails aren't going for it. There are only a handful now but I read that they (the snails) reach maturity in 6-8 wks and then produce 50-100 eggs/wk. I'm worried about a population explosion in 2 months, especially if I went ahead and got a school of tetras banking on being able to keep up with snail removal. Thanks for the input about the nitrites/-trates.

HatchetHaven

JVzer0

Really, your nitrates get down to zero? I've never heard that from anyone except for people using test strips instead of liquid tests, but I assume that's not the case with you.

Anyway, as far as everything that I've read, a tank is considered to have finished cycling once ammonia and nitrates have each spiked and gone back down to zero. I still think that it's pretty unlikely that your nitrates will go to zero after a spike, because there is no specific bacteria that consumes nitrates the way that bacteria consume ammonia and nitrites (although plants do to an extent), and also because I've never heard of anyone else having 0 nitrates. Because your nitrates probably won't go down on their own, once your ammonia and nitrites are both at zero, you should do a 50% water change (remembering to use a chemical to dechlorinate and dechloramine the new water), after which it will be safe to add fish.

Here's a link to the FishLore article on fishless cycling:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

lisamorie

i argree with you guys-- when i first read that post, i was thinking i have a problem cause my nitrates have never been 0 in any of my tanks, so did some research, and as it turns out, you have to have nitrates. i guess they can be low with plants, but not 0.

susitna-flower

This whole thread has miss-information in it....

People need to be quite careful not to pass on things, that are not true, or that will lead others to wrong conclusions, or because you are not being careful typing the correct words.

If you don't believe what I say, check the article here on fishlore about the nitrogen cycle.

The cycle starts with a spike in ammonia, then nitrites....when they go down and the NITRATES go up is when your cycle is finished. Both ammonia and nitrite will be at 0 and your nitrates will be somewhere over 5....depending like has been stated, the care you take of your tank. Some have lots of plants and low nitrates, I do water changes and keep mine between 5-10.

High nitrates over 20 are hard on your fish, they will cause stress and lower the fishes resistance to disease, but are not anywhere near as toxic as ammonia or nitrite.