Day 17 cycle complete? Maybe?

[JimSWreef]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for tanking the time to help me out first off.
I ran my numbers tonight and here are the basics....
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 80

To me this says that the cycle is complete. As for my nitrates and phosphate, I believe I can just do water changes to reduce those numbers. If there is anything you see that I don't please let me know. I would love to start adding CUC and start QT on my first fish. Thanks again let me know what you see!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree the cycle looks done.

I doubt water changes alone will keep nutrients adequately low when you begin feeding fish, but it can certainly be helpful right now.

 

[reefndude]

I would say yes it's done. Salinity shouldn't be jumping around.

 

[JimSWreef]

I would say yes it's done. Salinity shouldn't be jumping around.

The jump up at the end was due to switching from a hydrometer to a refractometer. And the 1.022-1.023 change is the water level drop from evaporation. But maintains steady. The hydrometer consistently read 1.023/1.022 and the calibrated refractometer said it was actually 1.024.