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Confused_Penguin
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I'm doing a fishless cycle. It took 4 weeks for my tank (2.6 gallon fluval spec) to go from 8ppm ammonia to .25. Before I add ammonia I did a 25% water change. It was the first water change I've done. I usually just add more water due to evaporation.
This was my tank before I did the waterchange-
Ammonia: .25ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
PH 7.2
Temp 80 Degrees F
After I added the ammonia and did the water change, I did the API testing my tank stats are this--
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
PH 7.2
Temp 80 Degrees F
I usually do API testing every 3 days but since I feel like my tank is almost done cycling I do it everyday. This morning I checked the water pentameters and was shocked by my results --
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 2ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
I didn't wan't my bacteria to die so I added ammonia till it reached 4ppm again. I know I'm supposed to get 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20 nitrate readings and below. I know that if my ammonia and nitrite reaches 0 within a 24 hour period my tank is cycled.
Was my decision to add ammonia the correct one? Would adding ammonia help my nitrite reach zero too or increase it by 5ppm, making my cycle longer? This is my first time cycling a tank and I just want to make sure i'm doing everything right. Can someone help please?
This was my tank before I did the waterchange-
Ammonia: .25ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
PH 7.2
Temp 80 Degrees F
After I added the ammonia and did the water change, I did the API testing my tank stats are this--
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
PH 7.2
Temp 80 Degrees F
I usually do API testing every 3 days but since I feel like my tank is almost done cycling I do it everyday. This morning I checked the water pentameters and was shocked by my results --
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 2ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
I didn't wan't my bacteria to die so I added ammonia till it reached 4ppm again. I know I'm supposed to get 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20 nitrate readings and below. I know that if my ammonia and nitrite reaches 0 within a 24 hour period my tank is cycled.
Was my decision to add ammonia the correct one? Would adding ammonia help my nitrite reach zero too or increase it by 5ppm, making my cycle longer? This is my first time cycling a tank and I just want to make sure i'm doing everything right. Can someone help please?