Is my tank cycled?

[cody44]

Hey everyone,

Curious as to your thoughts if my tank is cycled and ready for a new fish. My wife and kids are chomping at the bit haha.

Info- 40 Gal IM Fusion Pro, 2" sand bed of Carib Sea Argg Alive, good amount of caribsea life rock as well. Doing a fish in cycle currently have 3 small clowns in there. I also used Fritz Turbostart 900 day 1.

I've been testing with the Red Sea Marine Care multi test kit. Ammonia has been 0 ppm for 7 days now. Nitrite "spiked" 6 days ago to between 0.5 - 1 ppm and has since quickly came down to nearly 0. It has been between 0.05 and 0 for 3 days now. The test has the faintest tint of pink. Nitrates are 5-10ppm (hard to tell its darker than 5ppm but not as dark as the 10ppm).

Does the Red Sea kit ever read a true 0 (completely clear) when testing for nitrites?

 

[brandon429]

it was ready as soon as you added the bac

cycles today don't take coaxing to finish, they're done with a pour, day one. you need to prep for fish disease now using fallow and quarantine

 

[Cell]

Cycled but 3 clowns is not going to work long term.

 

[Jekyl]

Cycled but 3 clowns is not going to work long term.

This. Welcome to R2R!

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

Probably fine, but remember go slow in the hobby

 

[Dom]

it was ready as soon as you added the bac

cycles today don't take coaxing to finish, they're done with a pour, day one. you need to prep for fish disease now using fallow and quarantine

Yep... finishing up a 125 building. New substrate. Old live rock. No bottled bacteria. Ammonia badge never left the "safe" yellow indication. Corals, Nems and fish all doing very well.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Hey everyone,

Curious as to your thoughts if my tank is cycled and ready for a new fish. My wife and kids are chomping at the bit haha.

Info- 40 Gal IM Fusion Pro, 2" sand bed of Carib Sea Argg Alive, good amount of caribsea life rock as well. Doing a fish in cycle currently have 3 small clowns in there. I also used Fritz Turbostart 900 day 1.

I've been testing with the Red Sea Marine Care multi test kit. Ammonia has been 0 ppm for 7 days now. Nitrite "spiked" 6 days ago to between 0.5 - 1 ppm and has since quickly came down to nearly 0. It has been between 0.05 and 0 for 3 days now. The test has the faintest tint of pink. Nitrates are 5-10ppm (hard to tell its darker than 5ppm but not as dark as the 10ppm).

Does the Red Sea kit ever read a true 0 (completely clear) when testing for nitrites?

Hi Cody. Welcome. Your tank is cycled. Nitrite may show up faintly on that kit for a long time. No worry, even if a trace is present, nitrite isn't very toxic in a marine tank. Good to have another Wichita resident on the forum.

 

[cody44]

Thanks everyone!! I figured it was cycled but there are so many different opinions on cycling (and everything else it seems). Just wanted to double check. My kids will be very excited for a trip to the LFS after school today. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Just John]

 

[Cell]

Thanks everyone!! I figured it was cycled but there are so many different opinions on cycling (and everything else it seems). Just wanted to double check. My kids will be very excited for a trip to the LFS after school today. Thanks again everyone.

Don't go adding a bunch of fish right now though. Stock slowly. Trade one of the clowns in too while you are there.

 

[cody44]

Don't go adding a bunch of fish right now though. Stock slowly. Trade one of the clowns in too while you are there.

I have a 20G tank I am setting up for the 3rd clown and will be moving him over asap. And roger that on stocking slowly only plan on getting 1 fish maybe a snail/crab/shrimp as well and then waiting. Trying to do things right and not mess up from the get go while also keeping 3 kids happy

 

[ReefGuard Systems]

Cycled but 3 clowns is not going to work long term.

my exact thoughts when I read that...