Almost Cycled????

I've been cycling my planted tank with fish-in since May 4th (May the 4th be with you)......

The last six days have read as follows:

May 11th
Ammonia - 0ppm
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite - .50ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm

May 12th
Ammonia - 0ppm
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite - 1.0ppm
Nitrate - 5.0ppm

May 13th
Ammonia - 0ppm
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite - 2.0ppm
Nitrate - 5.0ppm

May 14th
Ammonia - 0
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite - .50
Nitrate - 5.0ppm

May 15th
Ammonia - 0ppm
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite - .25ppm
Nitrate - 5.0ppm

May 16th
Ammonia - 0ppm
Ph - 7.6
Nitrite between 0-0.25ppm (not quite blue but not purple)
Nitrate between 0-5.0ppm (not quite orange but not yellow)

Water tested with API Master Test Kit.

Do you think I've finally arrived?! Please tell me YES! LOL!

 

I would do a water change and test it in an hour. See where your nitrites end up. I would say your either cycled or almost cycled. I'd like to know if nitrites read a clearer zero or not before saying anything for sure. I would also test it for a few more days just to make sure the parameters hold before getting the fish.

 

The last test was done after I changed the water this morning. I've been changing the water 25% every day except for a 50% when the nitrite jumped to 2.0. I've also been using Prime water conditioner and *no* bacteria starter/supplement.
I have been using Aqueon aquarium plant food for micro and macro nutrients. Do you think that helps the cycle?

 

It likely does. It's been forever since I've really done a cycle. I've been using old filter media for years. Food waste creates ammonia needed to feed beneficial bacteria. Like I said, I would wait a few more days to make sure your parameters hold and nitrite is zero.

 

I will wait before adding more fish, and for the next tank I will do a fish-less cycle with media from an established tank. Unfortunately I didn't know about the fish-less cycle until after I started with the fish-in. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it!!

 

I will wait before adding more fish, and for the next tank I will do a fish-less cycle with media from an established tank. Unfortunately I didn't know about the fish-less cycle until after I started with the fish-in. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it!!

No problem. I think a lot of people new to the hobby start out with a similar story. I've done fish-in cycles before as well. With one of my first tanks, I let the tank run for a week or two feeding fish flakes then added the fish. Luckily, the bacteria had a head start so it wasn't a complete fish-in cycle. I think the key is to get hardy fish. I would just give it a day or two to declare it fully cycled just to be on the safe side as the readings aren't exactly clear.