Fish question about cycle

[Gary LeCompte]

I have a 180 gal. been in cycle for 40 days and 40 nights..... I used the red sea mature kit to cycle. I did not like the way things went. I don't think I cycled the way they say. My ammonia was 0 my nitrites were .2 nitrate 2 I added bio-spira 4 days ago. Ammonia was still 0 nitrites were more than 1. I did about a 70 gallon water change yesterday. Today my ammonia still 0. Nitrites are 1. Nitrates 5.
The bio-spira says after you use that the aquarium is fish safe. Is it?
Would you put fish in this environment?

 

[EmdeReef]

There shouldn’t be any nitrites but the fact that you have nitrates tell you that you have a cycle going. Were you adding a source of ammonia during the cycle and how often?

I’ve added fish to QTs shortly after biospira (usually within 24hrs) without problems. Always good to monitor and have ready water to change. I would say in a 180g unless you add a lot of fish you should be more than fine.

 

[Gary LeCompte]

There shouldn’t be any nitrites but the fact that you have nitrates tell you that you have a cycle going. Were you adding a source of ammonia during the cycle and how often?

I’ve added fish to QTs shortly after biospira (usually within 24hrs) without problems. Always good to monitor and have ready water to change. I would say in a 180g unless you add a lot of fish you should be more than fine.

I did add a shrimp while cycling with the red sea mature. Ammonia rose and fell. I added 20 emerald crabs, 15 snails, 3 hermits, 2 peppermint shrimp, and 1 coral banded shrimp. I feed some mysis shrimp once a day. I just added 3 more peppermint shrimp another coral banded shrimp and 15 snails.