Cycle question

[lickyricky]

Quick question, after my ammonia reaches zero how long should I wait to add fish? I'm not asking because I want to rush my cycle I'm asking because I want to make sure the bacteria I have been building up will be okay. Thoughts? Or should I ghost feed or dose pure ammonia?

 

[K. Steven]

Once ammonia and nitrite reach zero and you have nitrate present, do a large water change and you're ready to add some CUC and fish.

 

[lickyricky]

Once ammonia and nitrite reach zero and you have nitrate present, do a large water change and you're ready to add some CUC and fish.

I seem to have a lot of nitrates (20-30 ppm) but not sure if it's this API test. Was gonna get a Red Sea one to double check

 

[K. Steven]

I seem to have a lot of nitrates (20-30 ppm) but not sure if it's this API test. Was gonna get a Red Sea one to double check

As long as there isn't any ammonia or nitrite present, you should be good.

 

[Big G]

Quick question, after my ammonia reaches zero how long should I wait to add fish? I'm not asking because I want to rush my cycle I'm asking because I want to make sure the bacteria I have been building up will be okay. Thoughts? Or should I ghost feed or dose pure ammonia?

Dosing with pure ammonia is the cleaner choice. You know exactly what you are adding to your tank water. Usually one drop per gallon of ammonia results in 1ppm. Test to be sure. Your mileage may vary.

 

[terri_ann]

As stated, if no ammonia or nitrite present and you are reading some nitrate, the cycle is complete. However, there is a bioload tolerance, to speak of. This means that you can overstock the tank to where the bacteria cannot handle the livestock added thus creating a nutrient overload and again show nitrite. Ammonia levels can also rise causing death. I would suggest a cleaup crew after a water change. You do want some nitrate but not too much. You do not want to have too clean of a tank either because phosphates and nitrates are needed by bacteria, fish and corals.(All tanks will have cycles especially during the first 6 months or so due to adding livestock.) The cleanup crew can help with any algae and/or cyano that shows up. Again, after the tank is cycled, there are still things happening in the tank which means your tank is not mature/still undergoing changes for many months to come. HTH.