Help with cycling tank

[itz_jacob4268]

I have been cycling a tank for about a month now. My nitrates & nitrites were rising, and my ammonia was up so i knew that my Tank was starting to cycle I dosed with fritz turbo start and I added 2 damsels to help the cycle. (there was ammonia in the tank before adding fritz so the bacteria did have food) since adding the damsels 1 has perished but the other is going strong. Now my nitrates and nitrites are at 0 and my ammonia level has come down to 0.25 so I knew the tank was doing its thing but i Don’t know what to do. I am lost and need help!

 

[Lavey29]

If your tank is cycling properly, ammonia will be 0. Nitrites are irrelevant and nitrates should be present and increasing. Do not add any more fish until you confirm this is occurring.

 

[bud_rick]

Something isn't adding up here. You dosed ammonia in the beginning of the cycle and now your tank isn't showing any nitrite or nitrates after ammonia decreased? You should be seeing nitrates if it's cycled or close to being done.

 

[itz_jacob4268]

Gotcha yeah nitrites are at 0 and ammonia is 0.25

 

[itz_jacob4268]

Something isn't adding up here. You dosed ammonia in the beginning of the cycle and now your tank isn't showing any nitrite or nitrates after ammonia decreased? You should be seeing nitrates if it's cycled or close to being done.

I agree that’s why I’m so confused I thought I was doing good they just disappeared

 

[bud_rick]

Gotcha yeah nitrites are at 0 and ammonia is 0.25

Test nitrate again. It shouldn't be reading 0

 

[itz_jacob4268]

Test nitrate again. It shouldn't be reading 0

I just did and it indeed is

 

[bud_rick]

I'd redose ammonia and if it quickly gets processed into nitrate I would add a couple fish(after water change) to produce a constant supply of ammonia. I wouldn't worry about the fish you lost. It was most likely because you added them while there was still a detectable level of ammonia present.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I just did and it indeed is

What test kit are you using?

 

[itz_jacob4268]

I'd redose ammonia and if it quickly gets processed into nitrate I would add a couple fish(after water change) to produce a constant supply of ammonia. I wouldn't worry about the fish you lost. It was most likely because you added them while there was still a detectable level of ammonia present.

There is still a live fish in the tank with this ammonia level and seems fine

 

[itz_jacob4268]

What test kit are you using?

API master kit