week 2 of 10 gallon cycling

so I tested my water today and my
pH: 7.0
Ammonia:1.0-2.0 (ammonia was the same few days ago

nitrite: 2.0ppm
nitrate: 10 -20ppm

is that suppose to happen when my tank cycling?

by the way the nitrite and nitrate was at 0 few days ago. is this a bad thing?

 

No your coming up on the end of your your cycle it looks like, once your ammonia and nitrite are around 0 you should be good to go

 

No your coming up on the end of your your cycle it looks like, once your ammonia and nitrite are around 0 you should be good to go

really? its only been 2 weeks. I thought the average tank cycle takes about a month or so

 

Well do u have any fish in the tank or are your doing a fish less cycle?

 

Well do u have any fish in the tank or are your doing a fish less cycle?

yes just 2 guppies (yes I know its cruel)

 

And what size tank, type of filtration? I have done a cycle with fish and added seachem stability as directed and I've cycled many tanks in 2 weeks

 

2 weeks** sorry typo

my filter is the HOB powerfilter penn-plax cascade 150

ten gallon tank

I put TTS too

 

Oh well if your using TSS it is possible for it to cycle quickly....I would say keep an eye on your levels over the next few days...are the fish acting odd?

 

Oh well if your using TTS it is possible for it to cycle quickly....I would say keep an eye on your levels over the next few days...are the fish acting odd?

nope, theyre just swimming around actively, and eating well and don't hide that much

 

Has it been the full 2 weeks? Did you do a water change at all during that period? And you used the TSS that says start up on the bottle?

 

I wouldn't do a water change until a month of the tank running....just keep doing what your doing and have patience everything will level out

 

Has it been the full 2 weeks? Did you do a water change at all during that period? And you used the TSS that says start up on the bottle?

I wouldn't do a water change until a month of the tank running....just keep doing what your doing and have patience everything will level out

yes its been full 2 weeks and a few days, I did a water change a week ago, I shouldnt have done a water change. I used safe start plus, thank you for the answer btw

The ammonia stayed the same when I did a water change (a week ago)

 

If you did a water change, that probably caused the TSS+ to fail which is why you're still seeing ammonia and nitrites at the end of 2 weeks. I would do at least two 50% water changes back to back to get those ammonia/nitrites down as they are too high right now. Then you can add another bottle of TSS+ 24 hours later.

 

If you did a water change, that probably caused the TSS+ to fail which is why you're still seeing ammonia and nitrites at the end of 2 weeks. I would do at least two 50% water changes back to back to get those ammonia/nitrites down as they are too high right now. Then you can add another bottle of TSS+ 24 hours later.

so if I do a wc and put the nitrite and ammonia at 0, does that mean its fully cycled?

 

You would be cycled if you showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and >0 nitrates for at least 2-3 days straight. You're basically looking for your bacteria to process all of the ammonia and nitrites on their own without a water change.

 

No^ because your removing those with the water change. It has to happen on its own. Do the water change, add more TSS and leave it for 2 weeks.

 

You would be cycled if you showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and >0 nitrates for at least 2-3 days straight. You're basically looking for your bacteria to process all of the ammonia and nitrites on their own without a water change.

No^ because your removing those with the water change. It has to happen on its own. Do the water change, add more TSS and leave it for 2 weeks.

Can I dose TTS?

 

You can add TSS+ 24 hours after your water change.

 

You would be cycled if you showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and >0 nitrates for at least 2-3 days straight. You're basically looking for your bacteria to process all of the ammonia and nitrites on their own without a water change.

No^ because your removing those with the water change. It has to happen on its own. Do the water change, add more TSS and leave it for 2 weeks.

You can add TSS+ 24 hours after your water change.

do I have to start the cycle again or is it in a minI cycle?

 

Your tank has beneficial bacteria it just needs to build up more to break down the ammonia and nitrites. I would do a 20% water change to keep the ammonia at bay to keep the fish alive, add more safe start then just leave the tank alone for a couple weeks. Then you'll probably be good to go

 

do I have to start the cycle again or is it in a minI cycle?

It's neither. You're mid-cycle. The presence of nitrites and nitrates indicate you have some of the ammonia eating bacteria as well as the nitrite eating bacteria, just not enough of it.

You'll need to get the ammonia and nitrite down as low as possible because the levels you show now are toxic. As I mentioned, do a couple of large back to back water changes of 50% each to get the ammonia/nitrite as close to zero as possible. Add an entire bottle of TSS+ 24 hours later and then do no water changes. You could test a week later to see where you are.

 

It's neither. You're mid-cycle. The presence of nitrites and nitrates indicate you have some of the ammonia eating bacteria as well as the nitrite eating bacteria, just not enough of it.

You'll need to get the ammonia and nitrite down as low as possible because the levels you show now are toxic. As I mentioned, do a couple of large back to back water changes of 50% each to get the ammonia/nitrite as close to zero as possible. Add an entire bottle of TSS+ 24 hours later and then do no water changes. You could test a week later to see where you are.

Your tank has beneficial bacteria it just needs to build up more to break down the ammonia and nitrites. I would do a 20% water change to keep the ammonia at bay to keep the fish alive, add more safe start then just leave the tank alone for a couple weeks. Then you'll probably be good to go

Alright, thank you so much!

 

What are you stocking the tank with? These fishes are the only fish you can have in the tank and how many you can have: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/stocking-list-for-10-gallons.207629/ . I suggest cross referencing any fish you are deciding to have with this list! Most schooling/shoaling fish that you find in the big chain pet store (Petco/Petsmart) will not fit in a 10 gallon since you need 6+ and those fish are usually bigger than an inch and active.

 

What are you stocking the tank with? These fishes are the only fish you can have in the tank and how many you can have: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/stocking-list-for-10-gallons.207629/ . I suggest cross referencing any fish you are deciding to have with this list! Most schooling/shoaling fish that you find in the big chain pet store (Petco/Petsmart) will not fit in a 10 gallon since you need 6+ and those fish are usually bigger than an inch and active.

right now 2 platies

 

would 1 male dwarf gourami be enough? and like 2 male guppies?

 

A DG would not be suitable in this tank size. I think you could add 2 male platies, 2 male guppies and some shrimp/snails but that would be it.

 

No, dwarf gouramis can't be kept in a 10 gallon! Some of them can be aggressive and a 10 gallon is too small for them

 

A DG would not be suitable in this tank size. I think you could add 2 male platies, 2 male guppies and some shrimp/snails but that would be it.

No, dwarf gouramis can't be kept in a 10 gallon! Some of them can be aggressive and a 10 gallon is too small for them

Ok thanks

 

No problem

 

No problem

red cherry shrimp right?

 

So for a 10 gallon you can do:
2 male platies
2 male guppies
10? rcs

If you have decoration and sponge filter you will be able to have your rcs breed! Are you purposely gonna breed them? If not I suggest going with 20 instead of getting 10 and then wait for them to breed. Here's a link to a good place to by rcs: . I bought the 20 shrimps for them and received 23. If you look at my thread in my signature you can see some pics of them. They are really nice color of red since they are sakura. Usually from pet stores they would charge you almost $5 for one. Which is ridiculous. The website also has a breeder pack that gives you 5 males and 10 females!

 

So for a 10 gallon you can do:
2 male platies
2 male guppies
10? rcs

If you have decoration and sponge filter you will be able to have your rcs breed! Are you purposely gonna breed them? If not I suggest going with 20 instead of getting 10 and then wait for them to breed. Here's a link to a good place to by rcs: . I bought the 20 shrimps for them and received 23. If you look at my thread in my signature you can see some pics of them. They are really nice color of red since they are sakura. Usually from pet stores they would charge you almost $5 for one. Which is ridiculous. The website also has a breeder pack that gives you 5 males and 10 females!

Yup. I have a lot of decorations in the tank and also a sponge filter, I am trying to breed them haha and thanks for sending the website!

So for a 10 gallon you can do:
2 male platies
2 male guppies
10? rcs

If you have decoration and sponge filter you will be able to have your rcs breed! Are you purposely gonna breed them? If not I suggest going with 20 instead of getting 10 and then wait for them to breed. Here's a link to a good place to by rcs: . I bought the 20 shrimps for them and received 23. If you look at my thread in my signature you can see some pics of them. They are really nice color of red since they are sakura. Usually from pet stores they would charge you almost $5 for one. Which is ridiculous. The website also has a breeder pack that gives you 5 males and 10 females!

Also what are good plants for the tank and the shrimp, I know java moss is good for the shrimp. but its sold out in the website u linked me

 

So based on the website so that you can get everything together I'd say: marimo moss ball(they love grazing on these), java moss (get the mat) its basically the same thing except maybe better, and other kind of mosses.

 

So based on the website so that you can get everything together I'd say: marimo moss ball(they love grazing on these), java moss (get the mat) its basically the same thing except maybe better, and other kind of mosses.

already got the moss ball
ill buy the java moss after my tank is done cycling

 

Looks good!

 

Looks good!

One more question lol when I get the RCC do they breed right away?

 

no not really. It might take a month or so! Depends on the ration or something like that. Also it depends on the tank setup. If you have a sponge filter and lots of plants especially mosses you will definitely have shrimplets in a month or 2. For those with HOBs it might take awhile since HOBs and currents are the best thing. Also it depends on the fish. If you have a lot of fish in the tank than more shrimplets will die before they get a chance to get big enough! Of course the more shrimps you have the better the chance of them breeding!

 

no not really. It might take a month or so! Depends on the ration or something like that. Also it depends on the tank setup. If you have a sponge filter and lots of plants especially mosses you will definitely have shrimplets in a month or 2. For those with HOBs it might take awhile since HOBs and currents are the best thing. Also it depends on the fish. If you have a lot of fish in the tank than more shrimplets will die before they get a chance to get big enough! Of course the more shrimps you have the better the chance of them breeding!

update: 0 ammonia! :
1.0-2.0 nitrite
10-20ppm nitrate!

this is the last stage of the cycle right?

 

almost there! need to have 000

 

update: 0 ammonia! :
1.0-2.0 nitrite
10-20ppm nitrate!

this is the last stage of the cycle right?

You'll want to do a couple of large water changes to get that nitrite down below 1. Once you see the ammonia and nitrite at 0 consistently for 2-3 days straight without the need for a water change, you're cycled.

almost there! need to have 000

Unless you are heavily planted and/or lightly stocked, you should expect to see >0 nitrates.