Has the tank cycled??

[mikey1958]

New 75 gal that I have done a fishless cycle using 10 lbs of live sand..I was a guest of the local hospital the night I added water..Tank has been running for a little more than 3 weeks without me around..I checked parameters night before last, 0 nitrates and nitrites, .25 on ammonia...Today I ran test again, 0 across the board...is the tank cycled and ready forca couple of fish?

 

[FurrierTransform]

I would think so; when you add fish, you might add (as you say) not more than a couple of fish and continue to check ammonia, etc. I'm thinking that a bit more ammonia and other stuff may be needed to help grow the beneficial bacteria to a useful population. You haven't (possibly) given your tank enough of a bio-load to grow the bacteria.

 

[mikey1958]

Thank you very much

 

[V A R I A N T]

Prior to leaving the tank to run solo, did you add anything as an ammonia source? Fishless tank cycle, bottled bacteria with ammonium? A piece of shrimp or fish food? If you didn’t introduce anything to start the cycle, I wouldn’t wager it’s complete yet. Zero nitrate is concerning if it’s cycled. There would be some, even in low amounts.

 

[Dan_P]

New 75 gal that I have done a fishless cycle using 10 lbs of live sand..I was a guest of the local hospital the night I added water..Tank has been running for a little more than 3 weeks without me around..I checked parameters night before last, 0 nitrates and nitrites, .25 on ammonia...Today I ran test again, 0 across the board...is the tank cycled and ready forca couple of fish?

How many ppm of ammonia did you initially add?

 

[mikey1958]

How many ppm of ammonia did you initially add?

O I used live sand then got sick

 

[mikey1958]

Prior to leaving the tank to run solo, did you add anything as an ammonia source? Fishless tank cycle, bottled bacteria with ammonium? A piece of shrimp or fish food? If you didn’t introduce anything to start the cycle, I wouldn’t wager it’s complete yet. Zero nitrate is concerning if it’s cycled. There would be some, even in low amounts.

I used 10 lbs of live sand. Nothing else because I got sick that night

 

[Phil Steel]

I would say it hasn't cycled yet as no ammonia was introduced and you haven't gone through the necessary spike or levelling out yet - you might need to go through the process again, but I'll let others chime inhere.

 

[mikey1958]

How many ppm of ammonia did you initially add?

0. I used 10 lbs of live sand..I got sick shortly thereafter

 

[Dan_P]

0. I used 10 lbs of live sand..I got sick shortly thereafter

If you did not add ammonia and observe its disappearance, there is no way to tell whether the live sand is “live” and the aquarium cycled

 

[Rmckoy]

Someone mentioned cycle and @brandon429 hasnt appeared ?

the word cycle is similar to the bat man light shining . Maybe we need to change the bulbs

 

[Spare time]

Add some fish food or even better ammonium chloride and try it out. I personally like adding a bottle of cycling bacteria in since usually you can just plop a fish in right away unless its a tiny tank.

 

[Spare time]

Someone mentioned cycle and @brandon429 hasnt appeared ?

the word cycle is similar to the bat man light shining . Maybe we need to change the bulbs

Oh no, here comes an essay explaining something that can be said in 3 sentences or less lol

 

[Rmckoy]

Oh no, here comes an essay explaining something that can be said in 3 sentences or less lol

I was going to suggest we all refrain from commenting to save room for the work threads

 

[Rmckoy]

Add some fish food or even better ammonium chloride and try it out. I personally like adding a bottle of cycling bacteria in since usually you can just plop a fish in right away unless its a tiny tank.

I haven’t started a new tank in so long I almost forget how to ….
I’ve always dropped a raw shrimp in and let it decompose .
when it was gone I started adding fish

 

[vetteguy53081]

0. I used 10 lbs of live sand..I got sick shortly thereafter

Typically you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride or a piece of shrimp (shrimp for 48 hours). Then you want to monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle which is why its best to stock fish slowly over the next few months
What test kits are you using ?

 

[Rmckoy]

Typically you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride or a piece of shrimp (shrimp for 48 hours). Then you want to monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle which is why its best to stock fish slowly over the next few months
What test kits are you using ?

Why would nitrates be <20 ?
I’ve always had nitrates exceeding 20-40ppm right after cycling which a large water change corrected and reduced them

 

[vetteguy53081]

Why would nitrates be <20 ?
I’ve always had nitrates exceeding 20-40ppm right after cycling which a large water change corrected and reduced them

When < or below in conjunction with zero ammonia STEADY, = safe for addition of fish. In essense its not unsafe for fish but after adding ammonia source, its a safe indicator for stocking

 

[mikey1958]

Typically you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride or a piece of shrimp (shrimp for 48 hours). Then you want to monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle which is why its best to stock fish slowly over the next few months
What test kits are you using ?

API

 

[mikey1958]

API

I am going to add a couple of smal clown fish first..then watch it for a week or 2