Cycling..what Now?

so I started cycling my tank last Wednesday. Used tetra safe start plus and dosed with ammonia as numbers began to drop. I’ve had my ammonia down to 0 within 24 hours several days in a row. Nitrites were stagnant at .50 (until today more to follow on that) and I’m testing nitrates at 40ppm as of yesterday.

This mornings test ( after dosing up to 3ppm ammonia last night) was
Ph 7.4
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite 4/5 ppm
Nitrate 40ppm

Now what? Do I water change? Will the nitrites ever balance to 0

 

You'll check one day and the nitrite will be at 0 even though it was 5+ the day before. When that happens, bring ammonia to 2-4ppm and check the next day. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0, and if it is, do a massive water change to purge the accumulated nitrate, then start stocking your fish.

 

You'll check one day and the nitrite will be at 0 even though it was 5+ the day before. When that happens, bring ammonia to 2-4ppm and check the next day. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0, and if it is, do a massive water change to purge the accumulated nitrate, then start stocking your fish.

So if I test later and my ammonia is at 0 should I dose again?

 

When I used TSS+ in my 40 gallon tank and ammonia got to the point where it was at 0 every day, I started dosing it every 2-3 days to 2ppm since I didn't want to accumulate nitrite for no reason. I think you could do that until nitrite comes down, then do the final dose of ammonia to make sure both test 0 the next day.

 

Just dose to 2 ppm, it’s plenty, 4 ppm is too much.

 

Just dose to 2 ppm, it’s plenty, 4 ppm is too much.

Thanks! Do you agree not to dose with ammonia for a few days to let the nitrites drop?

 

Yep, that'll be fine. It's what I generally encourages others to do when cycling. I try and avoid the "dose 2 ppm every time ammonia reads 0 ppm". I think it's much easier to simply do it when nitrite reads closer to 0 ppm, otherwise you're just building a larger nitrite backlog.

 

Looks like
We have ourselves a cycle! I will dose up to 2 ppm and check tomorrow morning!

 

Ok I’ve donw two major changes trying to drop nitrates and after today’s I’m down to 5ppm which should be perfect. Should I keep dowsing ammonia every few days just to keep the cycle going? I have 10 CPDs arriving Friday from The Wet Spot