What point?

[mayreee]

I got a 5 gallon aquarium 2 weeks and 2 days ago. I did not know about cycling. I just got a test kit today. My ammonia is 2.0 and my nitrites are at 0. Where am I in the cycle? Maybe you wont know but do you think my nitrites have come down or haven't began to show yet?

Also does anyone know if the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals "Freshwater Master Test Kit" tests nitrates? I have one and it doesn't say anything about testing for them but I thought I read online it does. I could be wrong though.

There are 2 neon tetra, 2 mollies, 1 platy, and one swordtail.
pH 7.2

 

[phanmc]

Your tank is still at the beginning stages of the cycling process before the ammonia consuming bacteria is converting it into nitrite. I'd do a water change and try to keep the ammonia levels below 1ppm, for the health of your fishes.

Your ammonia will eventually drop and then you will detect nitrite. Don't let nitrite build up higher than .5. Eventually, the nitrites will drop and nitrates will begin to grow. Your cycle is complete when ammonia and nitrites are 0 and only nitrates is detected. Then you should perform water changes to keep your nitrates below 40ppm.

The Aquarium Pharmaceutical master test kit should have a test for nitrate (NO3).

Your tank is overstocked as well. The swordtail alone will grow to about 5 inches and so can the mollies. Neons are schooling fishes and shouldn't be kept in groups smaller than 5.

 

[mayreee]

Thanks so much! I wash I would have researched all this before jumping into it. I also wish the pet store staff would have told me. I feel so stuck right now and I don't know what to do. My car is broke down and if it wasn't I'd hop in it tomorrow and take all of the fish back.

 

[phanmc]

You should be ok for now when they're still small, just keep up the water changes when the toxin levels gets high. You can always get a bigger tank when they begin to grow.