75 Gallon Tank Almost completed cycle??

About two months ago maybe less, I bought a 75 gallon and didn’t know any better so got talked into using API quick start. I used api quick start 24 hours after I dechlorinated the water in my tank and added 7 little fish to aquarium (1 per 10 gallons as I was told) wasn’t long before ammonia started showing up so I’ve kept it under 1 ppm for the whole two months and yesterday it was around 0.85 ppm so was planning on doing water change today. Tested water today just curious before and ammonia was at 0.15 ppm, does this mean my cycle is coming to an end and also should I still do a water change today as I had planned?? Greatly Appreciate any tips!!

 

What are your nitrite and nitrate readings at, and what fish do you have in the tank? Also, what are you using to test your water?

Generally you should see a spike in ammonia, then nitrites then nitrates. A fully cycled tank is 0 ammonia and nitrites, with only nitrates left. It is possible you are coming to an end of your cycle, or another stage, but the other readings are important to confirm that.

 

What are your nitrite and nitrate readings at, and what fish do you have in the tank? Also, what are you using to test your water?

Generally you should see a spike in ammonia, then nitrites then nitrates. A fully cycled tank is 0 ammonia and nitrites, with only nitrates left. It is possible you are coming to an end of your cycle, or another stage, but the other readings are important to confirm that.

Nitrite is 0 and has always been 0 (read where using a quick start product you may skip the nitrite and go straight to nitrate), nitrate is about 10-15. Using api master test kit. 4 gold skirt tetras, 1 clown pleco, 1 gold gourami, and 1 half banded spiny eel (only one I’ve been nervous about not having it cycled already but was told it would be fine with quick start) all fish are 2.5 inches or so and under

 

Test your Nitrites and Nitrates as well. I have been sitting at .5 PPM ammonia, but I haven't added anything to it yet. It was mostly an experiment to see if my well water had any beneficial bacteria for the cycle...the answer is not really. I will say however, that while 0 PPM ammonia is ideal, you do need to know your nitrites and nitrate levels as well.

 

Test your Nitrites and Nitrates as well. I have been sitting at .5 PPM ammonia, but I haven't added anything to it yet. It was mostly an experiment to see if my well water had any beneficial bacteria for the cycle...the answer is not really. I will say however, that while 0 PPM ammonia is ideal, you do need to know your nitrites and nitrate levels as well.

I posted them above, forgot to mention them in first post

 

I posted them above, forgot to mention them in first post

Gotta love when two people post at the same time LOL. It looks like there is the potential to be coming towards the end of one stage at least. I would say keep it up, remember that while Nitrates are not as toxic to fish they can still do some serious damage. I think you are well on your way though!

 

Gotta love when two people post at the same time LOL. It looks like there is the potential to be coming towards the end of one stage at least. I would say keep it up, remember that while Nitrates are not as toxic to fish they can still do some serious damage. I think you are well on your way though!

Thank you! And yes I know nitrates aren’t good for fish as well, I’m hoping to keep it under 20 because I’ve read 40 is highest it needs to go, eventually I want to attempt live plants so that will help me with nitrates as well, should I still do water change today??

 

Thank you! And yes I know nitrates aren’t good for fish as well, I’m hoping to keep it under 20 because I’ve read 40 is highest it needs to go, eventually I want to attempt live plants so that will help me with nitrates as well, should I still do water change today??

How much of a water change are you planning on doing? I would just do the standard 10-15% honestly. Get some plants in there too about now, they will help cycle because they have the beneficial bacteria on them already so you are just adding to the cycle and helping it at this point. Remember though that the plants will eat up the Nitrites as well as the Nitrates.

 

I’ll get right on that then, only bad thing is I’m an hour away from any place that sells anything fish lol, so when I make a trip I have to know exactly what I need. Thank you for the help! I’ll do a 15% water change.

 

I usually do some research and then bring a small container of aquarium water personally, for that kind of distance. I go about 30 to 45 minutes away for my trusted LFS and that is what I learned works really well to keep them in good condition. You can add the plants directly to the water, since fish come with their own water, I don't usually do it this with the fish.