is my cycle done?

[switchcats]

Ok, so I set up the 65G last Friday, using the AquaClear mini from my established 20G to transfer the bacteria over, along with some of the gravel put into those media cartridges that came with the Emperor 400. I put in 4 giant danios on Saturday, and a couple dojo's on Sunday. I was testing ammonia and nitrites every day, and they have been at zero. Last nite I picked up a nitrate test kit, and that tested at about 15 ppm, 0 ammonia and nitrite.

I read somewhere that once you get the nitrates, your cycle is finished, and you can go ahead and add new fish slowly. This seems too easy to me, because it only took 5 days!

Could someone please confirm that the cycle is indeed finished or not?

Thanks!

 

[budrecki]

I would continue to test for 7 days and if the numbers stay the same, ammonia o, nitrite, o, nitrate +, then you can SLOWLY add fish.

 

[djmodifyd]

it sounds finished to me
but you should continue testing to make sure you don't get any spikes of anything

 

[kyle3]

sounds finished

i did my 20 this way and it only took 6 days

just stay caustious and add fish very slowly- continue checking levels-

you might also want to take the temp filter away before you add more fish

if you wait until the tank is fully stocked you're going to have a partial bio filter crash and the less fish the easier it will be-

after you take it out you'll have another minicycle the danios should be able to cope with it but i'd be more worried about what ever else you intend to put in

 

[switchcats]

I took off the mini filter last nite as well. I will keep checking the levels for the next week, and if it remains stable, I will start to add new fish.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ibanezgfx]

im at about 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 10 nitrate.
i have 2 german rams, 1 sailfin pleco in (about a week) and 3 angels i added yesterday. am i good?