is my 55g cycled... already!?

[pre98zetec]

Hey guys... I just recently set up my 55g... I put 2 little bags of gravel from my other established tanks in it. Its about 4 days old. I saw an ammonia spike of 1.0ppm but this morning its 0, and no sign of nitrite... Now I'm still new to cycling tanks but I'd say its cycled no? On the other hand, I keep telling myself that's not possible. I'm using API liquid test kits. Can anyone tell me what's going on?

[mattmartindrift]

Fishless cycle, if so:

have you been adding ammonia?

If not, of course it will read 0 with no source, and if it has no source for long enough you'll have some old gravel with dead bacteria.

[pre98zetec]

No, I have 4 African Cichlids in there right now

[Marinemom]

You may of experienced a silent mini cycle but you should be showing some nitrates. In order to be cycled you need to be showing some nitrates.

Marinemom

[pre98zetec]

I do not have a nitrate test kit so I don't know what that is.. Only ammonia/nitrite/pH.. I need to pick up a nitrate test kit.

[Marinemom]

Nitrate is the end by product of a cycled tank. As long as they stay at 40 ppm but under 20 ppm is better you will be fine. If the nitrates get too high this can also kill your fish. I would defintely look into getting a test kit for nitrates. You need to know where your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are at all times especially if you have a tank cycling.

Marinemom

[jpappy789]

Like marinemom said you need to have nitrates at the end of the cycle along with zero ammonia and nitrite. Get a test kit and see what your levels are. If you don't have any the cycle is not completed. Make sure your ammonia and nitrite stay under zero...in a min-cycle these numbers can jump quickly.