Is my tank done cycling

[Jess5023]

I'm doing a fishless cycle.
my nitrate is 15ppm
My nitrite is 2-3ppm(hard to tell)
My ammonia 0ppm
It's been cycling for about 40 days
Is it finished or is my nitrite too high?

 

[Jess5023]

Water changes are fine. But "very high" nitrate would be over 100 in this situation... and if you still have nitrITE, the nitrATE will be falsely high. Once you're cycled, then do a water change to get nitrates to 20-ish (or below).

Okay thank you

 

[Jess5023]

I'll always advocate for patience and think you're doing a good job making sure to not rush things; I do believe you're safe to start adding some cuc (assuming your lights are on and there's algae) and slowly adding fish. Just remember, a tank is "cycled" when it has enough nitrifying bacteria to handle the current bioload; adding fish increases the bioload and you need to give the bacteria time to catch up after each addition... this is also why some suggest adding a capful of the shelf-stable (i.e. not refrigerated) type of bacteria with each fish addition, just to boost the bac population. (Not really necessary though unless you're adding more than 1-2 fish per month...)

Thank you for telling me things I didn't know (learning new things everyday)

 

[Jess5023]

If you had a nitrate spike “which you did” you’re cycled.. I’m guessing the nitrite reading is false or your nitrates would be super high with a false reading as eyore mentioned.. should be good to go as long as you start adding fish slowly..

Oh Ok thank you for telling me !

 

[Jess5023]

I've got another question I am probably going to start getting some fish for my aquarium what fish do you recommend for a new saltwater beginner?

 

[Troylee]

I've got another question I am probably going to start getting some fish for my aquarium what fish do you recommend for a new saltwater beginner?

What size tank? Clowns are always hardy fish.. fire fish, cardinals…!

 

[Jess5023]

What size tank? Clowns are always hardy fish.. fire fish, cardinals…!

My tank size is 10 gallons ( now I regret not getting a bigger one lol but that's what I got)

 

[Troylee]

My tank size is 10 gallons ( now I regret not getting a bigger one lol but that's what I got)

Any of the ones I mentioned above would be fine… if you wanna upgrade now would be the time lol.. just move your current rock and water everything to a bigger tank.. it would skip the cycle and just act as a large water change..

 

[Jess5023]

Any of the ones I mentioned above would be fine… if you wanna upgrade now would be the time lol.. just move your current rock and water everything to a bigger tank.. it would skip the cycle and just act as a large water change..

I Will stick to 10gallons for now LOL

 

[Jess5023]

Any of the ones I mentioned above would be fine… if you wanna upgrade now would be the time lol.. just move your current rock and water everything to a bigger tank.. it would skip the cycle and just act as a large water change..

Do you recommend some snails for algae or is there no need ?

 

[Matt Bravo]

I Will stick to 10gallons for now LOL

I you can do 10, I currently still have my 10, it’s looking okay although one of my alves are a bit annoyed. Be PATIENT. I dug a huge hole in my budget after I saw my clowns survive 2 days. I decided it was time for corals. It was NOT. Since it’s a small system try to keep salinity as stable as possible. Wait at least 3 months ( I waited 7 for corals) there was absolutely no need to wait that long it’s just that I didn’t feel comfortable getting them before. Don’t forget almost everyone has small losses in the beginning, just push through them bro

 

[Troylee]

Do you recommend some snails for algae or is there no need ?

Clean up crews are nice yes! Just a couple torchus, ceriths and a turbo should be plenty. And if you wanna throw a couple small blue leg hermits for character go right ahead..

 

[Matt Bravo]

Do you recommend some snails for algae or is there no need ?

Do you have diatoms yet?

 

[Jess5023]

Do you have diatoms yet?

I have a little bit of diatoms at the back of my rocks

 

[Jess5023]

Clean up crews are nice yes! Just a couple torchus, ceriths and a turbo should be plenty. And if you wanna throw a couple small blue leg hermits for character go right ahead..

I like blue leg hermits those are cute
I'll take your advice thx

 

[Matt Bravo]

I have a little bit of diatoms at the back of my rocks

Yeah tbh get like 3-4 snails just to stay on top of algae. Give it a few more days though, you don’t want them to starve as well

 

[Jess5023]

Yeah tbh get like 3-4 snails just to stay on top of algae. Give it a few more days though, you don’t want them to starve as well

Okay I'll give it a few more days !

 

[MrGisonni]

Go slow.

 

[Jess5023]

Go slow.

I Will !

 

[mikey1958]

I'm doing a fishless cycle.
my nitrate is 15ppm
My nitrite is 2-3ppm(hard to tell)
My ammonia 0ppm
It's been cycling for about 40 days
Is it finished or is my nitrite too high?

Nitrate way to high

 

[Matt Bravo]

Nitrate way to high

I wouldn’t stress keeping nitrates around the 20s if it’s fish only, corals are a very different story of couse. However my LPS definitely like the 7-12 ish nitrates I have right now