Fudge... Did I Mini Cycle my tank?

I tested a few days ago and everything was at zero except my nitrates, which were at 5-10.
Now, everything is at zero. EVERYTHING.

Did I minI cycle?... If so, how? I haven't done anything but add a plant. And change decor?

 

Did you have any ammonia or nitrate readings before? Was your tank definitely cycled or are you in the cycling process still?

Decor does house some BB, so changing it out could have caused a minI cycle. Do you have any other plants or just the one and what kind is it? Plants do use nitrate as a food source and it could have used up the nitrate you did have.

 

Yes I'm pretty sure it was cycled? I got my test kit way after I had my fish, as couldn't afford it before. My readings were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5-10 nitrates. Now everything's at zero. Maybe a small bit of ammonia? Which is what makes me think I minI cycled it. It wasn't fully one color or the other.

It was an Anubis Nana?

 

the plant might have used the nitrate and it was denitrified by bacterium. do you add any sludge removers or something like bacteria clean F?

 

Not that I know of? I don't know what that is, so I'm guessing no.

 

then bacteria, denitrification occurred, and the plant used it; alternatively your test was flawed.

most aquatic plants can actively intake nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia; and some bacteria can convert them to nitrogen gas that is expelled in the atmosphere

 

Hmm, okay! I kinda understand?

Is it bad for that to happen? Like, should I actively try to make more nitrates? Or do I not have to do water changes as often now?

 

Hi, Did you do a large water change before testing? Is this your 10 gallon tank or a new tank?

Are you making sure to bang nitrate bottle no. 2 hard on the counter or your hand for 30 seconds before using it to test? You'll get a false negative if you don't.

 

Nope, haven't done a water change since Thursday ish? Or maybe a few days ago... But no, I didn't do a water change.
Yep! Its my ten. Honestly I think it was because of the plant? On a second opinion there is no ammonia in the tank.

Oh... Didn't know I was supposed to do that? I thought I was just supposed to shake it super hard?

Also, long time no see!

 

I doubt you lost your cycle at this point, hard to believe one plant would do that unless you have a very very small fish population. The contents settle in that bottle and shaking it is sometimes not enough. I would try it again just to be sure but I wouldn't worry about it unless you start seeing ammonia or nitrites.

Ha ha, I was on vacation and disappeared a bit this month

 

Ah, well I disappeared for a long time due to RL situations. But I'm back now!

And whew. I had hoped not... My pH had gone up by a few points and I was slightly freaking out. And I know! That's what I was like. One tiny plant gave me a heart attack lol

Is just a betta a small population?

 

welcome back!

I doubt you lost your cycle at this point, hard to believe one plant would do that unless you have a very very small fish population. The contents settle in that bottle and shaking it is sometimes not enough. I would try it again just to be sure but I wouldn't worry about it unless you start seeing ammonia or nitrites.

Ha ha, I was on vacation and disappeared a bit this month

 

Oh yeah, if it's just a betta you may never see nitrates again depending on your water change schedule.

What does RL stand for?

 

Stands for Real Life lol

And ah. Didn't know that XD

 

Oh ha ha. Yes, RL definitely can get in the way. I had to force myself to stay off of the site for a couple days after I got home to get stuff done instead of wasting my day away on here ha ha. Well not really waste but not accomplishing stuff I should be accomplishing!