is it done?

daayda3

AC Members
Sep 21, 2006
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Hi!
Well i set up my 20g and its cycleing (i think)

i put one of my old filters from the 10g into the back of this one, also some of my 10g fish water and also, a rock rom my tank (big) that soaked up alot of water from my tank... also some flake food

so i tested my water
nitrAte is perfect
nitrIte is perfect
and PH is perfect too...

my temp is at 79
so, is my cycle done?
i have ever cycled a tank before:eek:
 
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it could be, How long has been running? The filters from the other tank might make it faster. You need to keep some ammonia in there, so by putting that food in there it will help it. What are you readings?
 
well as of now, i have strips :p:

but everything reads perfect, and it has been running allmost 2 days...
 
so i tested my water
nitrAte is good
nitrIte is perfect
and PH is perfect too...

boy that leaves alot open to interpretation doesn't it? what does "good" and "perfect" mean.
 
Yea.. put the actual readings, I've never used the strips but I'm pretty sure they don't say "good" or "perfect"..

The filter and water and rock will help in cycling the tank faster, that is how I cycle all of mine. I will place the new filter on a cycled tank for around 3 weeks so it will grow the bacteria, then I do a water change except the water I take out goes to the new aquarium, usually about 50%, plus I'll move over some substrate or rocks or plants or something. Usually at the very worst my tank will only go through a mini cycle.
 
well i dont know the readings... its just a color code, and it all matched
 
As I recall, test strips do not test for ammonia, only nitrites and nitrates, correct?

You need to purchase a liquid test kit for at least ammonia and nitrite, I highly reccomend nitrate as well. If the readings for ammonia and nitrite are zero, and the test strips are showing some nitrate, then theres a good possibility you are cycled. The catch here is you added tank water from an existing tank so you are going to show nitrate regardless if you are cycled or not.

Get some "real" test kits and post your numbers here. :)

Blue
 
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