How do I knw if my tank is cycled?

[merlberg]

About a week and a half ago I added 2 bottles of the instant ocean bio spira in my 120 gal. I heard with tht u can add fish right away but i waited so a few days ago i added my tomato clown and he is doing fine and eating but its hard for him to find the food since the tank is so big n he is the only one in there now. My question is how do I knw if the cycle is done so i can start adding the rest of my fish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Is there any ammonia in the tank? If no, then it should be ok to add the next fish.

 

[HiddenUser]

Test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate...Once the cycle has completed Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0 and you should start noticing Nitrates.

 

[twilliard]

No nitrites

 

[PatW]

I use ammonium chloride to cycle a tank. I like the control it gives me over dosage. I start with about 1 to 2 ppm ammonia. Once the ammonia disappears and nitrates appear, it might be done. I add .5 ppm ammonia and see if it goes undectable over night. I repeat and figure it is good to go.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate...Once the cycle has completed Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0 and you should start noticing Nitrates.

Nitrite isn't dangerous in SW, so if the tank is converting the ammonia so that is undetectable then it is safe to add fish.

I use ammonium chloride to cycle a tank. I like the control it gives me over dosage. I start with about 1 to 2 ppm ammonia. Once the ammonia disappears and nitrates appear, it might be done. I add .5 ppm ammonia and see if it goes undectable over night. I repeat and figure it is good to go.

But the OP already has a fish in the tank, so while adding ammonia and testing for it 24 hrs later is my recommended way of determining if a cycle is complete, I don't recommend it if fish are in the tank.

 

[merlberg]

Is there any ammonia in the tank? If no, then it should be ok to add the next fish.

I have the ammonia badge in the tank n it showe no ammonia.

 

[merlberg]

Test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate...Once the cycle has completed Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0 and you should start noticing Nitrates.

I'll be testing all those today but i noticed ive been overfeeding the tank with pellets so im sure something is off now.

 

[merlberg]

Nitrite isn't dangerous in SW, so if the tank is converting the ammonia so that is undetectable then it is safe to add fish.

But the OP already has a fish in the tank, so while adding ammonia and testing for it 24 hrs later is my recommended way of determining if a cycle is complete, I don't recommend it if fish are in the tank.

So once all my parameters are in the clear, even if my nitrite is a little off I can add the next fish right?

 

[eatbreakfast]

So once all my parameters are in the clear, even if my nitrite is a little off I can add the next fish right?

As long as ammonia is zero you can add, because your bacteria is handling all the ammonia being produced.

 

[merlberg]

As long as ammonia is zero you can add, because your bacteria is handling all the ammonia being produced.

Thanks