How do I know when my tank is done cycling?

I’m cycling my 5g tank with Tetra Safestart plus, How do I know when it’s done cycling? I’m a complete noob lol. I’m cycling with fish food, I wish I had bought ammonia but I’m pretty sure the cycle is almost over so it’s not worth it to me to buy a giant bottle of ammonia for the last week or less of the cycle. I know fish food takes longer to decompose and produce ammonia though so how do I know when it’s fully cycled? I’m currently putting a generous pinch of fish food in every day and testing every day (sometimes every other). I didn’t tesT yesterday. Today’s water parameters are: somewhere between 0ppm and .25ppm ammonia (closer to .25 but not quite there ) 0ppm nitrites, 20ppm nitrates.
Thanks in advance!!!!

 

your tank is done cycling when you can turn 2-3 ppm of ammonia into nitrates within a 24 hour period with a result of 0-0-?

 

Safestart is generally used at the same time you add fish. What type of fish are you going to add to your tank? How long ago did you add the Safestart? Have you done any water changes yet?

 

When your tests are 0 for Ammonia....0 for nitrites....and you do have 5-20 ppm of nitrates.

Your tank is cycled and the BB is living and doing the its job.

Hope this helps!!!

 

Sounds like a cycle 0 nitrites. You have nitrates and low ammonia which can be a api error. To be safe add fish and a small bottle of safe start.

 

Sounds like a cycle 0 nitrites. You have nitrates and low ammonia which can be a api error. To be safe add fish and a small bottle of safe start.

Yes agreed API can read 0.25 when actually 0. I would introduce slowly and keep an eye on it

 

test again tomorrow, big chance it's 0-0-?
the fact that you have 0 nitrites and some nitrates means you're quite at the end of the cycle.

 

Before I can say yes, this tank is cycled I have to ask. Did you go through the nitrite spike? Have you tested your source water for nitrates and found none? If you can answer yes to these questions then I have to say yes, your cycle is done and it is time to siphon all that decomposing food out of there and finally get your water pet.

 

Safestart is generally used at the same time you add fish. What type of fish are you going to add to your tank? How long ago did you add the Safestart? Have you done any water changes yet?

I’ll be adding 3 guppies and cherry shrimp. I added the safe start on the 20th and i was following instructions for a fishless cycle with safestart. I haven’t done any water changes.

When your tests are 0 for Ammonia....0 for nitrites....and you do have 5-20 ppm of nitrates.

Your tank is cycled and the BB is living and doing the its job.

Hope this helps!!!

That does help!!! thank you! another question do I do a water change before adding fish?

Sounds like a cycle 0 nitrites. You have nitrates and low ammonia which can be a api error. To be safe add fish and a small bottle of safe start.

Thx!!

Before I can say yes, this tank is cycled I have to ask. Did you go through the nitrite spike? Have you tested your source water for nitrates and found none? If you can answer yes to these questions then I have to say yes, your cycle is done and it is time to siphon all that decomposing food out of there and finally get your water pet.

I didn’t have a nitrite spike. But i’ve heard a lot of people that use Tetra Safestart dont. There weren’t any nitrates in my source water

 

I didn’t have a nitrite spike. But i’ve heard a lot of people that use Tetra Safestart dont. There weren’t any nitrates in my source water

It is very possible that you were fortunate and got a fresh bottle of TSS. Am I understanding correctly? You said you added the TSS on the 20th of August. If that is the case this cycle is moving extremely fast. It seems the TSS has actually done what it is supposed to do but so seldom actually does.

What type of fish are you planning on having in this tank? If it is just going to be a single fish such as a Betta just go ahead and do your water change to clean out all the food you have been adding before you put him in there. Once you do just keep an eye on the parameters and do water changes as needed.

If you don't see an ammonia spike you shouldn't have to do another water change for a week. If you will commit to changing out 50% of the water each and every week for the life of this tank your little guy should live a long healthy life.

 

It is very possible that you were fortunate and got a fresh bottle of TSS. Am I understanding correctly? You said you added the TSS on the 20th of August. If that is the case this cycle is moving extremely fast. It seems the TSS has actually done what it is supposed to do but so seldom actually does.

What type of fish are you planning on having in this tank? If it is just going to be a single fish such as a Betta just go ahead and do your water change to clean out all the food you have been adding before you put him in there. Once you do just keep an eye on the parameters and do water changes as needed.

If you don't see an ammonia spike you shouldn't have to do another water change for a week. If you will commit to changing out 50% of the water each and every week for the life of this tank your little guy should live a long healthy life.

I’m adding 3 guppies (or endlers, I’m still deciding since i didn’t think the cycle would be done this early LOL) and 5-6 cherry shrimp. I’m adding the shrimp first then a week or 2 later adding the guppies. I’ll keep an eye on the parameters and definitely water change weekly

 

I’m adding 3 guppies (or endlers, I’m still deciding since i didn’t think the cycle would be done this early LOL) and 5-6 cherry shrimp. I’m adding the shrimp first then a week or 2 later adding the guppies. I’ll keep an eye on the parameters and definitely water change weekly

From all I've read it is much better to have a well established tank before adding shrimp so it might be better to wait a while before adding them. It took me forever to finally feel comfortable enough to finally get shrimp for the 2.5 gallon bowl I set up for them. By the time I finally added my shrimp the bowl had been up and running for almost a year. You won't have to wait that long but if I were you I would wait a couple of months at least to allow a lot of bio-film to grow in the tank.

It might be best to add your guppies first. They will have the bigger bio-load so should keep your cycle fed. Shrimp have a very low bio-load.

 

From all I've read it is much better to have a well established tank before adding shrimp so it might be better to wait a while before adding them. It took me forever to finally feel comfortable enough to finally get shrimp for the 2.5 gallon bowl I set up for them. By the time I finally added my shrimp the bowl had been up and running for almost a year. You won't have to wait that long but if I were you I would wait a couple of months at least to allow a lot of bio-film to grow in the tank.

It might be best to add your guppies first. They will have the bigger bio-load so should keep your cycle fed. Shrimp have a very low bio-load.

Thanks! I didn’t know this. I was worried the guppies would bully the shrimp and i wanted to give time for the tank to be more “their” tank. If you don’t think that’ll happen i’ll go ahead and add the guppies first!
My tank has actually been running since early july but it never cycled (still have no idea why it never even started) so i added the TSS. Idk if there is any bio film though, is there a way i can tell if there’s any in my tank?

I’m a complete noob as you can probably tell already, this is my first “real” fish tank and i want to do it right so my fish are happy and healthy. I wish i had gotten a bigger tank but I’ll do my best to make sure it’s not overstocked and the fish are healthy thanks everyone for answering my noob questions!!!

 

Were you adding some form of ammonia when you first set the tank up? If not that is why the cycle didn't do anything at first.

I know it doesn't mention how important an ammonia source is on the bottle of bottled bacteria. I have to think they assume there will be fish in there producing ammonia so fail to mention it. When using it for a fish less cycle there will be no fish in there producing ammonia so it has to come from another source. I see you were adding fish food when you added the TSS but were you adding it when you first set this tank up? If not then it wasn't growing any bacteria.

We really can't see the bio-film but should be able to kinda feel it. Things will feel kinda slick or slimy. Just to be sure you are providing a safe home for your eventual shrimp I will recommend you wait at least a month after adding the fish before adding your shrimp. Even 2 months would be even better.

 

Were you adding some form of ammonia when you first set the tank up? If not that is why the cycle didn't do anything at first.

I know it doesn't mention how important an ammonia source is on the bottle of bottled bacteria. I have to think they assume there will be fish in there producing ammonia so fail to mention it. When using it for a fish less cycle there will be no fish in there producing ammonia so it has to come from another source. I see you were adding fish food when you added the TSS but were you adding it when you first set this tank up? If not then it wasn't growing any bacteria.

We really can't see the bio-film but should be able to kinda feel it. Things will feel kinda slick or slimy. Just to be sure you are providing a safe home for your eventual shrimp I will recommend you wait at least a month after adding the fish before adding your shrimp. Even 2 months would be even better.

I have been adding fish food every day since i set it up, no idea why it didn’t start. I never got a test kit until about a month later though, which was a huge mistake but i have one now and i’ve learned from my mistake!

Good to know about the biofilm, I’ll go ahead and get the fish first! Thx!

 

I have been adding fish food every day since i set it up, no idea why it didn’t start. I never got a test kit until about a month later though, which was a huge mistake but i have one now and i’ve learned from my mistake!

Good to know about the biofilm, I’ll go ahead and get the fish first! Thx!

In that case it is very possible bacteria was growing and that is why everything moved fast once you added the TSS. Since you weren't testing from the beginning things may have been happening but without testing you wouldn't know what was going on.

Please keep us updated and of course if you have more questions, ask away and we will try to answer them.

I wanted to point out that the majority of the bacteria is growing on your filter media because that is where the most food will be but it also grows on all the surfaces in your tank so try not to over clean everything all at the same time. Be sure to rinse your filter media when needed in some water you have pulled from your tank during a water change. If you are running a HOB (hang on back) filter and are using the filter cartridges that came with it you don't want to change them as often as the instructions tell you to do it. As long as the water is still flowing freely through it just rinse the outer layer of build-up off of it.

Once it reaches the point to where water will no longer flow freely through it cut the floss off the plastic frame. Toss the frame and the carbon. Put that piece of fiber in the filter along with a new cartridge. Doing this will allow that piece of seeded fiber to seed your new cartridge. Toss that piece after a month.

 

In that case it is very possible bacteria was growing and that is why everything moved fast once you added the TSS. Since you weren't testing from the beginning things may have been happening but without testing you wouldn't know what was going on.

Please keep us updated and of course if you have more questions, ask away and we will try to answer them.

I wanted to point out that the majority of the bacteria is growing on your filter media because that is where the most food will be but it also grows on all the surfaces in your tank so try not to over clean everything all at the same time. Be sure to rinse your filter media when needed in some water you have pulled from your tank during a water change. If you are running a HOB (hang on back) filter and are using the filter cartridges that came with it you don't want to change them as often as the instructions tell you to do it. As long as the water is still flowing freely through it just rinse the outer layer of build-up off of it.

Once it reaches the point to where water will no longer flow freely through it cut the floss off the plastic frame. Toss the frame and the carbon. Put that piece of fiber in the filter along with a new cartridge. Doing this will allow that piece of seeded fiber to seed your new cartridge. Toss that piece after a month.

thank you so much! I’ll definitely keep you updated. And thanks for the info on the filter, I’m using a HOB filter and that was actually one of my questions that I forgot to ask!!

Edit : the question was do I need to change the cartridge as often as it says to and how do I keep the beneficial bacteria I worked so hard to get in the filter! I’m not very good at using forums LOL

I have another question already LOL!! I tested again today and it looks like my tank is cycled! Yay!!! I want to add fish soon but I want to do a 50% water change before I add them , but the TSS bottle said don’t do a water change until it’s been 2 weeks. Is 10 days long enough or should i wait until it’s been 2 weeks before changing the water and adding fish?
thx again!!

 

thank you so much! I’ll definitely keep you updated. And thanks for the info on the filter, I’m using a HOB filter and that was actually one of my questions that I forgot to ask!!

Edit : the question was do I need to change the cartridge as often as it says to and how do I keep the beneficial bacteria I worked so hard to get in the filter! I’m not very good at using forums LOL

You are doing fine. Before long your will be a pro at both cycling and using the forum.

I have another question already LOL!! I tested again today and it looks like my tank is cycled! Yay!!! I want to add fish soon but I want to do a 50% water change before I add them , but the TSS bottle said don’t do a water change until it’s been 2 weeks. Is 10 days long enough or should i wait until it’s been 2 weeks before changing the water and adding fish?
thx again!!

You don't have to wait the full 2 weeks since the tank is cycled. If you hadn't already gotten a jump start on the cycle before adding the TSS waiting would be best but that isn't the case here.

Continue adding a pinch of fish food daily until a couple of days before you get your fish to keep a steady supply of ammonia in there. Once it is time to get the fish use your siphon to get as much of the decomposing food out of there as you can. It may take more than one 50% water change to get it out of there. Just be sure to use your water conditioner and temp match the new water. We can't see the bacteria but it is a living thing so we don't want to shock it with water too cold or too hot.

 

You are doing fine. Before long your will be a pro at both cycling and using the forum.

You don't have to wait the full 2 weeks since the tank is cycled. If you hadn't already gotten a jump start on the cycle before adding the TSS waiting would be best but that isn't the case here.

Continue adding a pinch of fish food daily until a couple of days before you get your fish to keep a steady supply of ammonia in there. Once it is time to get the fish use your siphon to get as much of the decomposing food out of there as you can. It may take more than one 50% water change to get it out of there. Just be sure to use your water conditioner and temp match the new water. We can't see the bacteria but it is a living thing so we don't want to shock it with water too cold or too hot.

Thank you again so much!!!

 

You are doing fine. Before long your will be a pro at both cycling and using the forum.

You don't have to wait the full 2 weeks since the tank is cycled. If you hadn't already gotten a jump start on the cycle before adding the TSS waiting would be best but that isn't the case here.

Continue adding a pinch of fish food daily until a couple of days before you get your fish to keep a steady supply of ammonia in there. Once it is time to get the fish use your siphon to get as much of the decomposing food out of there as you can. It may take more than one 50% water change to get it out of there. Just be sure to use your water conditioner and temp match the new water. We can't see the bacteria but it is a living thing so we don't want to shock it with water too cold or too hot.

OMG and I just remembered another question i had, there are tiny white particles floating around in my tank and a bunch of little white strings that look like worms? I do have a silk plant in my tank and i had problems with one i used to have fraying so it could be a little piece of thread from that... but the more i look at them the less they look like thread and more like worms - they’re itty bitty and my silk plant doesn’t look like it’s fraying at all?
I think the other particles are just bits of food that are small enough to float around but i’m not entirely sure...

 

To answer your other question you actually NEVER want to replace your cartridge until it physically falls apart. That's where your bacteria live, you'll be throwing away your colony. Make sure to have other places for the bacteria to grow so you dont have to worry about that, I put ceramic beads in my filter so if the cartridge ever falls apart at least I have my beads which are full of bacteria and last years. I'm also running a sponge filter which will also grow bacteria which is something you can easily do as well

 

To answer your other question you actually NEVER want to replace your cartridge until it physically falls apart. That's where your bacteria live, you'll be throwing away your colony. Make sure to have other places for the bacteria to grow so you dont have to worry about that, I put ceramic beads in my filter so if the cartridge ever falls apart at least I have my beads which are full of bacteria and last years. I'm also running a sponge filter which will also grow bacteria which is something you can easily do as well

Good to know, thanks!! I’ve heard substrate also holds some bacteria, is that true ?

 

OMG and I just remembered another question i had, there are tiny white particles floating around in my tank and a bunch of little white strings that look like worms? I do have a silk plant in my tank and i had problems with one i used to have fraying so it could be a little piece of thread from that... but the more i look at them the less they look like thread and more like worms - they’re itty bitty and my silk plant doesn’t look like it’s fraying at all?
I think the other particles are just bits of food that are small enough to float around but i’m not entirely sure...

It is not surprising to see detritus worms since you are ghost feeding the tank. You will pull some of them out when you siphon the fish food out and your fish will probably clean up the ones that are left. These little guys are totally harmless so no real need for concern.

 

It is not surprising to see detritus worms since you are ghost feeding the tank. You will pull some of them out when you siphon the fish food out and your fish will probably clean up the ones that are left. These little guys are totally harmless so no real need for concern.

Great thank you SOOOO much!!!!!!

 

Fish update: I did a water change, bought 3 guppies from lfs, and acclimated them over the course of ~2 hours yesterday. All 3 are doing well and are very active!! No bullying so far.
The one with a bluish tail is named lil Guppy, the white/iridescent one is Timothée Chalamet, and the one with the orange tail is named Susan All of them are boys. I love my new fish!!