Cycling question

[lamberti]

This site has helped me out so much I can't thank you enough! I have a question about cycling my tank. I started on Jan. 10 doing a fishless cycle, with ammonia. My ammonia stayed high (2ppm) until Feb.7 when the nitrites started to spike (5ppm). My ammonia has stayed at 0ppm now and my nitrites have gone to 0ppm since Feb.22. My nitrates are now at 10ppm and I am adding 15ml of pure ammonia per day until I get my fish in a couple of days. I know I have to do a big water change to get rid of the nitrates, but should'nt the nitrates be higher. My ph is 8 , GH less than 1%, KH 12 these numbers have stayed constant the whole time. I have well water. Thank You! :dance2:

[reptileguy2727]

nitrates dont build up too quickly. have they risen at all?

[lamberti]

My nitrates were 20ppm on Feb.20 and then they were 10ppm every day after that. Would it be O.K. to do a water change in a couple of days and then get my fish. I would like to get cories, german rams, and SAE. Thank you!

[LunchBox]

from what I've read, you can do a really big water change (75-90%) and put fish in immediately. It sounds like your cycle is established so as long as you keep your nitrates around 20 ppm (someone correct me if I'm off on this) you should be good to go :)

[reptileguy2727]

unless you have denitrifying bacteria in addition to your nitrifying bacteria(highly unlikely) or did a water change, that first nitrate test was probably errored. im not sure exactly when or how much you want to do a water change with fishless cycling, i have never used fishless cycling. i am not a fan of very large water changes however, too easy to screw things up. unless you are way overstocked, had some sort of crisis, or have certain fish (and there arent many that need it), smaller water changes should be all thats needed.