36 gallon corner bow finally cycled!!!

[platytetrafan]

Yes with all the hard work and daily water changes my 36 gallon is finally cycled. I tested the levels and are as follows 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0, nitrates ph 7.0-7.2. Now I just have to decide what type of fish I want to add. I started out doing a fishy cycle since I really was not sure how to do it fishless. I had 8 danios of which one survived and is doing well bleeding heart tetras are doing fine and so are the white clouds but since I have only two of each of these fish I definitely want to add more and some more danios so they can school. Yesterday I tranferred my 2 white skirt tetras into the tank they went from a 5 gallon to the 36 and are so happy to be in their new home must be like an ocean to them compared to the bathtub they started in lol. Platies will be added next once my female decides to give birth. The male and female are in my 5 gallon for now will transfer the male once I see she is closer to birth time and she will be transferred after the birth the fry will stay in the breeder in the 5 gallon. After that decisions decisions to make about what else to add. Just so happy the tank cycled so quickly took about 5 weeks and I know the additions have to be added slowly. Once the tank is stocked with more fish I will post more pics there is one already posted in the gallery if you would like to see it.:clap:

[Weezer]

Good luck on your new additions....:clap:

[Mgamer20o0]

do you have plants in the tank? did you just do a major water change? cycled tanks most of the time have some nitrates.

[rlhaag]

It looks like at the very bottom of his post it says 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and <10 nitrates.

[dvd_wightman]

Congratulations with the cycling and good luck in the future!

[Coler]

great ! well done !

You're sure you have nitrates ? cos you say 0 in your post and plus 10 in your sig.

more pics yes please :)

[Marinemom]

Good. Now the fun begins.

Marinemom

[platytetrafan]

Sorry I had to correct my sig on the 36g I have been testing everyday nitrites are 0, nitrates 0 and ammonia 0 the tank has been cycling since March 3rd. I had first tested with strips then went to petsmart today and got the drops for nitrite and nitrate to see if anything reads differently they both say the same results as above. Now using drops to test everything find them more reliable. I am now into the sixth week I was told that nitrate level should be 0-40.40 being the max level for nitrates. Since I believed to be cycled I only added 2 fish on Saturday but am now being told that there should be some nitrates. Don't understand it I got a 0.25 ammonia spike a few days into the cycle did 25% water changes everyday then ammonia leveled off to 0 it took a while but then got the nitrites but very low level did water changes 25% each time now 0. Nitrates have not shown up I have not done a water change in days since levels seem fine. The fish are doing fine eating well I decided not to add anymore fish until I am absolutely sure but I think I am cycled. I have no live plants. Who knows?:huh:

[tankboy_taylor]

In my experience with tank cycling which isnt much as I just learned the correct way to run a fish tank ( thanks AC) towards the end of my cycle less than two weeks ammonia stayed around 0.25, nitrite spiked pretty high even with daily 50% water changes and nitrate stayed a steady 5.

After the awful nitrite spikes that and ammonia were 0 and nitrate was between 5-10 .

Just to give you an idea.

[Rbishop]

Pretty light load right now for that size tank. just keep monitoring and do a water change when appropriate.

[platytetrafan]

Right Rbishop it is a light load of fish right now. I started out with 8 danios two bleeding heart tetras and 2 white clouds. Now I have only 1 danio left he was the hardiest of them the rest of the fish remain the same and are doing well no problems even avoided ich. I thought I was cycled last Saturday I added 2 of my tetras from the 5g I have they are doing fine in fact they are very happy. I am not sure if I should add any more fish or wait a little bit longer to see if nitrates show up I know I should get some. Since ammonia is 0 and nitrites are 0 now I am going in the right direction. This week is week 6 since tank was set up. I know once I do decide to add have to go slow but when would be a safe time? Also I haven't changed the filter thought I should wait until cycle is completed. Thanks to all of you for your input as well is much appreciated.

[Rbishop]

I wouldn't change the filter. Just swish it out or squeeze clean in a bucket of old tank water on the next water change.

[platytetrafan]

Ok thanks Rbishop...is so weird though ammonia and nitrites both show 0 wondering why nitrate hasn't shown up yet....hmmmm well the fish all seem fine swimming and eating they don't seem distressed at all. Will see in a few more weeks hopefully by the end of the month nitrates will show. lol who knows just waiting.:girl:

[butterfly1004]

Careful the tiger barbs will love to eat your platy babies when they mate again. Get some floating seaweed for the fry to hide in and there's a product called "Start Right" if you ever need to cycle a tank again. It Helps!!!!

[grannylvsfish]

pictures please!!!

[Rbishop]

Ok thanks Rbishop...is so weird though ammonia and nitrites both show 0 wondering why nitrate hasn't shown up yet....hmmmm well the fish all seem fine swimming and eating they don't seem distressed at all. Will see in a few more weeks hopefully by the end of the month nitrates will show. lol who knows just waiting.:girl:

You should be able to monitor less once you see nitrates show up and climb. Do at least a weekly change wether you need to or not.

Then tons of pics for us!

[platytetrafan]

Butterfly1004 I don't have tiger barbs in the 36g tank I do have tetras the fry will go in a breeder if my platy gets pregnant again. Thanks for the advise though I appreciate it. Will have lots of pics posted once the tank is completely cycled and I have stocked more fish in the tank. There is one pic posted in the gallery.