Cycling question?

[gabrieltackitt]

So I started my aquarium a few days ago, check out my build thread.
Anyways I started with live sand and a bottle of Dr. Tim’s One and only, along with a healthy amount of flake food to provide a little ammonia, I tested a day later for ammonia, and the test couldn’t detect any, so I added what felt like enough flakes to feed an army of fish and today still no ammonia detectable.

has my tank cycled or no? I have a nitrate kit on order but haven’t received it yet.

I still don’t plan on adding any fish or anything for at least a month, but I’d like to know if it’s already done cycling the bacteria part.

I’m using an API kit, I’m not worried about the accuracy, just looking for color change. This worked for my QT that is in the process of cycling, showing different colors as the ammonia went up and down.

 

[Dr. Phil]

I highly doubt that it cycled that quickly based on my experience. Even using dr. Tims one and only it took mine a few weeks to be able to process ammonia to 0 within 24 hours.

 

[gabrieltackitt]

I highly doubt that it cycled that quickly based on my experience. Even using dr. Tims one and only it took mine a few weeks to be able to process ammonia to 0 within 24 hours.

What would be causing the ammonia to not show up at all?

 

[Dr. Phil]

Are the tests in date? It could be that the ammonia levels aren't high enough to register? I used dr. Tim's ammonia to dose mine so that I would have more control.

 

[Robert Binz]

So I started my aquarium a few days ago, check out my build thread.
Anyways I started with live sand and a bottle of Dr. Tim’s One and only, along with a healthy amount of flake food to provide a little ammonia, I tested a day later for ammonia, and the test couldn’t detect any, so I added what felt like enough flakes to feed an army of fish and today still no ammonia detectable.

has my tank cycled or no? I have a nitrate kit on order but haven’t received it yet.

I still don’t plan on adding any fish or anything for at least a month, but I’d like to know if it’s already done cycling the bacteria part.

I’m using an API kit, I’m not worried about the accuracy, just looking for color change. This worked for my QT that is in the process of cycling, showing different colors as the ammonia went up and down.

So your first mistake was adding the original flake food. I’ll never stop criticizing people who offer that as cycling advice. You should’ve just bought Dr. Tim’s bottled ammonia and added that.

It takes a long time for the flakes to break down and all that does is delay your cycle.

 

[Robert Binz]

A sterile tank is not going to break down a big pinch of flakes. You’ll ha to wait the weeks for the heterotrophic bacteria to colonize and break it down; THEN you’ll have to wait the weeks for the nitrifying bacteria to break down the ammonia and nitrite

 

[gabrieltackitt]

A sterile tank is not going to break down a big pinch of flakes. You’ll ha to wait the weeks for the heterotrophic bacteria to colonize and break it down; THEN you’ll have to wait the weeks for the nitrifying bacteria to break down the ammonia and nitrite

Ahh I see, it appears that most of it has dissolved into the water column, but good to know! I had already planned on still cycling for at least 4 more weeks, probably 45ish days. The clowns I am adding first will be in QT for at least that long.