How Do I know if I am cycled?

[Brew12]

Ok will do tonight, and if ammonia and nitrites are zero should I dose to 1 or 2ppm again?..or test nitrates first as well? and if hight do a water change then dose?

If ammonia is 0ppm I would dose up to 1ppm. With a tank your size there is no reason to dose up to 2ppm. Wait to do a water change until after you dose and track ammonia again.

 

[RoryJ]

If ammonia is 0ppm I would dose up to 1ppm. With a tank your size there is no reason to dose up to 2ppm. Wait to do a water change until after you dose and track ammonia again.

Ok, tested tonight:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: between 80&160ppm
Now, I will dose 1ppm ammonia and in 24hrs it should read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, correct?

 

[Brew12]

Ok, tested tonight:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: between 80&160ppm
Now, I will dose 1ppm ammonia and in 24hrs it should read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, correct?

Yup, that would be ideal!

 

[RoryJ]

Yup, that would be ideal!

Just dosed, fingers are crossed!!!..How long do you think it takes for ammonia to register on test to make sure proper dosage?

 

[Brew12]

Just dosed, fingers are crossed!!!..How long do you think it takes for ammonia to register on test to make sure proper dosage?

Less then 5 minutes if you have good flow through your tank.

 

[RoryJ]

Less then 5 minutes if you have good flow through your tank.

Thanks again for your help!!...Now if all is good at this time in 24 hrs, ammonia and nitrite should read 0..all that would be left would be to bring down nitrates with a water change, correct?

 

[Brew12]

Thanks again for your help!!...Now if all is good at this time in 24 hrs, ammonia and nitrite should read 0..all that would be left would be to bring down nitrates with a water change, correct?

Yup!

 

[RoryJ]

Yup!

24 hrs later:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 5ppm
Now what?!!

 

[Brew12]

24 hrs later:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 5ppm
Now what?!!

Ummm... start adding fish slowly? Nitrites are very poisonous to fish however the same receptors in fish that can absorb nitrites have a higher affinity for absorbing chlorides. 5pp nitrites would kill a fresh water fish. A salt water fish won't even notice.

 

[RoryJ]

Ummm... start adding fish slowly? Nitrites are very poisonous to fish however the same receptors in fish that can absorb nitrites have a higher affinity for absorbing chlorides. 5pp nitrites would kill a fresh water fish. A salt water fish won't even notice.

Ok, so technically im not cycled, because if i was then nitrites would also be 0 after 24 hrs?..also should i do a water change before adding fish?..My idea was to add a pair of clowns first, any thoughts?

 

[Brew12]

Ok, so technically im not cycled, because if i was then nitrites would also be 0 after 24 hrs?..also should i do a water change before adding fish?..My idea was to add a pair of clowns first, any thoughts?

What are your nitrates at? That will dictate the size of your water change.

A pair of clowns would be a great choice.

 

[RoryJ]

What are your nitrates at? That will dictate the size of your water change.

A pair of clowns would be a great choice.

I didnt test today, but last night nitrates were somewhere near 160ppm

 

[Brew12]

I didnt test today, but last night nitrates were somewhere near 160ppm

Ouch. You really want to get nitrates under 80ppm before you add fish, preferably lower than that. Unless you can do a massive water change you may need to do a few of them.

 

[RoryJ]

Ouch. You really want to get nitrates under 80ppm before you add fish, preferably lower than that. Unless you can do a massive water change you may need to do a few of them.

Ok, i got my work cut out for me

 

[Brew12]

Ok, i got my work cut out for me

Yup. This is why I don't like the typical advice of continuously dosing up to 2ppm. I like going all the way to 0ppm before dosing up again.

It is what it is, and you really are in good shape.