I think I'm cycled but more ??"s

[catt410]

Ok so it 0 everything, not sure why the nitrates are gone.

I'm going to do a water change. Should I doing 50% or more than that.

How long should I wait to test? or do I have to test?

How long before I can add fish?

After I add fish, how often do I test?


You guys are great......

[donfenk]

If you dont have any Nitrates your tank is not cycled! (unless of course you have live plants).

As a tank cycles you will see the Ammonia level spike first and then drop, followed by a Nitrite spike and drop, result will be Nitrates in the water - water changes keep the Nitrate levels in check. Daily tests in the first month after adding new fish is probably best to watch for things going bad.

After that its always good to keep up with water tests ever week or so - although i have to admit i have settled into a ever two week water change on all three of my tanks and rarely check levels anymore.

[catt410]

Most everyone has read my endless ammonia questions but if not here's a quick over view.

It's been 7 weeks on a fishless cycle. The ammonia levels have been hard to keep up and drop to 0 almost every day. The last 2 days the nitrites have gone down to 0 as well as the ammonia and nitrates. If anyone is a master on the API test the nitrates is a very dark yellow but not orange so I am saying 0. Catt

[kryptic4l]

Have you put anything in the tank or just been cycling water?

[catt410]

Pure ammonia and I added cycle in the begining and last week. Catt

[donfenk]

How old is your test kit? The fact that the ammonia level is going right down to zero is good but you should have Nitrates as an end product of the Nitrogen cycle - i would make sure the test kit is good - not the strips but a good test kit with drops.

Also - i know a dumb question but are you getting an ammonia reading after you add in your ammonia? Maybe its not ammonia?

[catt410]

I think the test is fine, it's the liquid kind. The ammonia does show up after I add it.

Thanks all...

[Mgamer20o0]

after 24 hours and you have 0 ammonia and nitrites you should be cycled. do a major 90% water change and add the fish.

you should have nitrates dont know what happend there unless you been doing water changes. maybe test again to make sure.

[catt410]

I hadn't done any water changes until late today.

But the waiting is over for now. I did it, I bought fish. 12 corycats and 7 danios.
They seem very happy in there very large space. I hope all will be well.....

[Mgamer20o0]

good luck.

[Rbishop]

Monitor your water and do water changes as necessary.