We have a 84 gallon freshwater tank with 5 zebra danios and 5 tiger barbs and no live plants, which has been up and running for 20 days. I have been testing the water everyday with the Master Test Kit to make sure everything is accurate. The highest ammonia level I ever got was .50 and the highest nitrite level was between 1.0 - 2.0 (hard to tell). Yesterday when I tested the ammonia and nitrite levels were both at zero so I tested the nitrate level which showed 10.0. This morning I tested the levels again and ammonia and nitrite both still show zero and nitrate shows between 10.0 - 20.0 (probably closer to 10.0). I have also tested our plain tap water for nitrate and it shows 5.0. Is it possible that we could have had a "mini" cycle? Our local fish store said once the nitrate levels reach 40.0, then it is considered cycled and we should do a partial water change. All the fish are acting fine except for two female tiger barbs which have been hiding behind a rock and plants for two days, the others barbs are definitely males (orange noses). I was just going to keep testing for another week and see if the ammonia and nitrite stay at zero and watch the nitrate level to see if that goes up. Any suggestions?
Could it already be cycled???
- Thread starter Litespeed
- Start date
If you get a continuous reading of Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 for three or four days then I would say it could be cycled.
Nitrate is still toxic to your fish so I wouldn't let it get to 40 if you can help it.
Keep doing daily water tests, change the water if the Nitrates peak and see if the ammonia and nitrite stay at 0.
Nitrate is still toxic to your fish so I wouldn't let it get to 40 if you can help it.
Keep doing daily water tests, change the water if the Nitrates peak and see if the ammonia and nitrite stay at 0.
nitrate isnt toxic per say, but it isnt exaclty awesome for the fish. try to keep it under 20.
the volume of the tank and because it is stocked so lighlty is probably why the cycle was so fast. the ammoina coming for 10 small fish is going to take a while to get really concentrated in an 84 gallon tank, and the bacteria were able to react and grow before the levels got to high.
the volume of the tank and because it is stocked so lighlty is probably why the cycle was so fast. the ammoina coming for 10 small fish is going to take a while to get really concentrated in an 84 gallon tank, and the bacteria were able to react and grow before the levels got to high.
Even after the tank is established you will want to do a weekly water change around 25%. with gravel vac.
A mini cycle would occur only if you saw either ammonia or nitrite read other than zero.When you clean the inners of the filter use tank water.If the filter is set up with the Eheim media chances are you will never see a mini-cycle once the cycle has been established.
A mini cycle would occur only if you saw either ammonia or nitrite read other than zero.When you clean the inners of the filter use tank water.If the filter is set up with the Eheim media chances are you will never see a mini-cycle once the cycle has been established.
not many fish in that big tank sounds like it might be cycled......
often the lfs have no idea what they are talking about.
often the lfs have no idea what they are talking about.