Is this cycled?

[doughboy]

I don’t have good eye sight as far as distinguishing color. Is this considered cycled? Almost cycled? I plan to add livestock this weekend if cycled.

Taken 11/15

Taken 11/27

I did a water change 2 days ago.

Last time I cycled my current tank was maybe 8 years ago and I don’t remember it taking this long. Current cycle is about a month already.

Thanks

 

[DLHDesign]

With the green background, it's hard to tell on the ammonia test, but it could be 0.25ppm or less...
The nitrite looks solidly 0ppm and I'd say that the nitrate is no higher than 5ppm; more likely 0.

How does the tank itself look? Do you have any diatom (brown color) or other algae developing?

 

[brandon429]

we can tell about your cycle much better off a full tank shot of the rocks and sand vs just the test kits. you already stated your submersion duration, one month, which is half the equation we need to know.

 

[doughboy]

Tank is clean

 

[doughboy]

For the test taken today, I snapped a picture before the start of 5 minute wait for the test for reference.

 

[Fudsey]

Did you add anything to the tank for bacteria? Either a piece of shrimp or a bottle of bacteria?

 

[brandon429]

Agreed many ways to cycle, some faster some slower than a month.

There is a known test that discerns cycled or not, after any 30 day period submerged: change out all your water 100%

When it's new sw, add liquid ammonium chloride using online charts/easy to find until your tank runs one part per million

Show that reading in pic, that all new water is one ppm ammonia from a liquid AC solution.

Then post same ammonia test in 24 hours so we can see how your system dealt with one ppm. Let's see if ammonia moves



I'd wait longer before adding fish that's really new system

Complete all quarantine and fallow periods before adding fish that's for sure

W be neat to know how you boosted the cycle if any

 

[doughboy]

I started adding pellet food for a couple weeks and all tests were still 0. Then added 1 cube of mysis and the picture on 11/15 was like 5 days after adding mysis. Did not add anything since.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Can't tell if the tank is cycled. I'd put ammonia in the tank and immediately measure ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Twelve to twenty-four hours later I'd retest to see that ammonia went to zero.

I think you have an un-cycled tank!

 

[doughboy]

So I get Dr Tim’s ammonium chloride and add 4 drops per gallon to get 2ppm ammonia, then test again 24 hours later?

 

[aileen]

Hard to tell. I know that’s not much help. I cycled mine tank in about 4 weeks using zeobak and zeostart. As long as you have enough bacteria to break down the ammonia and nitrate, you’ll be good. Is your skimmer pulling out anything?

 

[doughboy]

Skimmer was half full with light yellowish color skimmate (probably got diluted). I cleaned it 2 days ago when I did the water change. Now there is a little bit of very light yellowish skimmate in the cup.

 

[aileen]

Ok if your pulling out stuff from the skimmer that’s good. Maybe time to add fish.