10 Gallon Tank - Am I Cycled?

[Florida_Fin]

I have had my tank for about two months...not sure where I am at in the cycle.

PH - 6.8 NH3 - 0 N02- .25 ppm N03- 10 ppm

3 Zebra Danios, 1 Flounder.

 

[mamahuberty]

Where is your ammonia at?

 

[Florida_Fin]

NH3 - Ammonia - 0

 

[Dieses Madchen]

You are cycled when you maintain 0 Ammonia, and 0 nitrites without the aid of water changes

This mean that your bacterial colonies are keeping up with the bioload of the fish

 

[Florida_Fin]

Okay I will leave it another 24 hours and the nitrites should go away on their own?

 

[ctsv510]

The nitrite portion of the cycle generally takes longer than the ammonia portion. If you are getting ammonia = 0, that is good and you are progressing, but any measurable nitrite means your tank is still cycling and you can expect it to be days or weeks before you consistently get 0 nitrite without the help of a water change.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

The nitrite portion of the cycle generally takes longer than the ammonia portion. If you are getting ammonia = 0, that is good and you are progressing, but any measurable nitrite means your tank is still cycling and you can expect it to be days or weeks before you consistently get 0 nitrite without the help of a water change.

I would do a partial water change to get the nitrites close to zero. Any bit of nitrite over .25 is slowly causing harm to the fish.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Gotcha. Yea, the nitrite part is taking forever. Ill do small PWCs to keep the nitrites down without taking too much bacteria.

Thank you.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Gotcha. Yea, the nitrite part is taking forever. Ill do small PWCs to keep the nitrites down without taking too much bacteria.

Thank you.

water changes will not affect your bacterial colony

 

[Florida_Fin]

Test today still the same readings. Nitrites haven't budged.

 

[Florida_Fin]

I checked my levels today about just about cried. Everything is messed up now.

PH - 6.2 ...
Ammonia - 0.25-.50
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5.0 ppm


What happened? My tank is collapsing? My fish seem okay

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Don't worry about your pH. If you try and mess with it, there is a good chance you may kill your fish (I killed a whole tank trying to play chemist) Do a water change to get rid of the ammonia. The nitrates are good. This means that your bacteria colonies are starting to convert your nitrites to non toxic substances. Only worry about your nitrites when it pushes past 40ppm. 10-20 is PERFECTLY normal.

Do a quick water change to get your ammonia close down to zero (at least 50%) and keep on testing the tank. You are good. Your tank is doing what its supposed to

 

[Florida_Fin]

ill get the ammonia down to 0. Shouldn't my tank keep ammonia at 0 always? I thought if it ever reads above 0 then you're in trouble.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

ill get the ammonia down to 0. Shouldn't my tank keep ammonia at 0 always? I thought if it ever reads above 0 then you're in trouble.

It's not going to stay down at 0 until your tank is fully cycled. All the ammonia spike means is that your bacterial colony is still no quipped to handle your bioload, and it needs a little bit of help from you. You are on the right track. When was the last time you had to do a water change?

 

[lucasluke]

Your small ammonia spike is probably from you over feeding abit.

Anyway as you have nitrite present you are still cycling and you will probably be stuck in this phase for another good 2 weeks yet.