Maintenance help please

I'm 48 hrs into adding TSS to help combat a mini-cycle. I tested water this morning and my results are ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates b/w 10 and 20.
Should I continue to wait and test daily for the entire 2 week period? My tank has been running almost 2 months and was cycled before.
What would the test results need to read signaling a wc is needed?
Thanks

 

I'm 48 hrs into adding TSS to help combat a mini-cycle. I tested water this morning and my results are ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates b/w 10 and 20.
Should I continue to wait and test daily for the entire 2 week period? My tank has been running almost 2 months and was cycled before.
What would the test results need to read signaling a wc is needed?
Thanks

Continue with the 14 day cycle unless you notice your fish stressing.

 

Yeah don't disrupt the cycle. Those readings are good. Over the next 14 days more bacteria will grow to process the 14 day buildup of stuff in the water. Testing is up to you I personally say to go ahead and test but many will suggest you don't.

Much of the bacteria that's doing all that work right now may still be in the water column or just not firmly attached. Let it find its footing.

 

Yeah don't disrupt the cycle. Those readings are good. Over the next 14 days more bacteria will grow to process the 14 day buildup of stuff in the water. Testing is up to you I personally say to go ahead and test but many will suggest you don't.

Much of the bacteria that's doing all that work right now may still be in the water column or just not firmly attached. Let it find its footing.

Sorry, but this is incorrect.
The bacteria will grow to handle the production, then continue to grow to remove the excess. When the water reaches 0ppm, where he is now, it will begin to reduce not grow, till it reaches the level of ammonia being produced. This is where it is cycled and will grow and reduce in according to increases and decreases in ammonia production through, over/under feeding or increased stocking. Your tank goes through a mini-cycle every time you accidentally overfeed, it is too small for you to register with the test kits, but it is still occurring. Most mini-cycles are finished quite quickly, the directions for TSS are for a full cycle from a zero level tank. He can not disrupt the cycle with standard maintenance at this point.

 

Sorry, but this is incorrect.
The bacteria will grow to handle the production, then continue to grow to remove the excess. When the water reaches 0ppm, where he is now, it will begin to reduce not grow, till it reaches the level of ammonia being produced. This is where it is cycled and will grow and reduce in according to increases and decreases in ammonia production through, over/under feeding or increased stocking. Your tank goes through a mini-cycle every time you accidentally overfeed, it is too small for you to register with the test kits, but it is still occurring. Most mini-cycles are finished quite quickly, the directions for TSS are for a full cycle from a zero level tank. He can not disrupt the cycle with standard maintenance at this point.

.

I see what you're saying and I understand the reduction that occurs once hitting 0ppm and well, I guess they'd be micro-cycles, since you can't see them with the naked eye I did not mean that bacteria continues to grow once it reaches baseline and I apologize if I did. I do think that it's possible to disrupt if you do a WC or regular maintenance as soon as those levels hit 0ppm. it happened to me, and I used the product the same way he did, when in a tank that was at least partly cycled. I have also heard of a few others talking about how they disrupted a TSS cycle by doing a WC before 14 days is up, though I don't know that their levels were 0 for long or not prior, mine were when it happened and I had waited the full 14 days). I guess it's a matter of preference, with TSS it's been recommended to wait the full 14 days. There's been some debate over whether or not that's necessary in a tank that was at least partly cycled, but to that I say this: My tank was partly cycled when I reverted to TSS, my ammonia zeroed out within 12 hours of using TSS, my nitrites closer to the end of the TSS cycle. When I did the WC and maintenance (granted, maybe a little over maintenance but not enough to disrupt a tank that was firmly matured) as soon as they hit 0ppm, nitrites were the only thing that came back. So, even though it's 0ppm, I do believe it can still be delicate which it why I do believe it is still upset-able (?) at this point.

But that's just personal opinion based on one use of the product I'd just rather be safe than sorry. Since it happened to me once already ha. Again, one experience though and I don't want to make that out to sound like more than it was. So at the end I guess it's about what the keeper feels the tank can handle, and I fully respect that. If it were me, I'd wait, just because I've already been there

 

Well thanks for the replies...
So if I understand correctly my tank in cycled again based on my numbers? So I can resume weekly 10-15% wc and mild vacuuming? I only have the 1 betta

 

Well thanks for the replies...
So if I understand correctly my tank in cycled again based on my numbers? So I can resume weekly 10-15% wc and mild vacuuming? I only have the 1 betta

At this point and based on the information above, I would say it's entirely your choice. Personally, I would just wait at least a little while longer, but with only 1 betta and properly stocked, your situation IS a little different than mine after all. I still maintain that I would wait the full 14 days, but I do have an irrational fear of mini-cycles now and if someone with more experience than me with TSS, like Sarcasm Included, tells you it's probably fine, then it probably is.

 

As stated, it really is a personal choice if you want to wait. You would be completely fine to wait till the 14 days are up. Honestly, I would wait to do it on a day that you feel comfortable as water change day, for your weekly water changes. Even if you have to wait a couple days beyond the 14 days.

 

Thanks you two! I will wait especially if there is no harm. I'll keep testing parameters too bc I can be a little on the obsessive compulsive side

 

Haha that I can understand. I don't want to tell you how many times a day I tested before my tank cycled. In fact I don't even want to tell you how often I still test even though it is cycled.

As stated, it really is a personal choice if you want to wait. You would be completely fine to wait till the 14 days are up. Honestly, I would wait to do it on a day that you feel comfortable as water change day, for your weekly water changes. Even if you have to wait a couple days beyond the 14 days.

This is smart advice. I'm stuck on Wednesdays for WCs. Which is the absolute worst day for me haha.