Cycling - 11th day and ammonia has not dropped

[Holyship26]

Sorry guys, I’m back. So 6 days later, after my second dose of ammonia, both ammonia and nitrite levels came back 0ppm for the first time.

Is this showing that cycling has now been successfully completed?

Are the next steps to do a 100% water change and then add in the fish? Or do I need to do a final test with a full dose of ammonia after the water change to see if ammonia and nitrite both drop to 0 within 24 hours?

 

[kwi]

To make sure dose to 3ppm ammonia and test again in 24hours. No need to do a water change. If both ammonia and nitrate are then at 0 then yes you are cycled. Very quickly.
If you're following the guide then it would usually be at least 4 doses (2 full, 1 "snack" then another full) before you're cycled.

(Have you been doing water changes? You shouldn't as these remove the nitrites that are needed as food so need to build up again.)

 

[Holyship26]

Thanks. I didn’t have to put in any “snack” doses and I haven’t done any water changes at all throughout the cycling process.

 

[itiwhetu]

Why not load a whole lot of plant into this tank, in 10 days when the plant starts to grow add a couple of fish. And away you go tank cycled.

 

[kwi]

Thanks. I didn’t have to put in any “snack” doses and I haven’t done any water changes at all throughout the cycling process.

So you're not following the guide on here?

 

[Holyship26]

So you're not following the guide on here?

I am following the guide - after my second dose, my first test “every other day” recorded a 0.5ppm ammonia reading so it wasn’t ready for the “snack” dose. My second test, 4 days after my second dose, recorded 0ppm readings for both ammonia and nitrite. My understanding from the guide is that once both ammonia and nitrite come back as 0ppm it means the cycling is done, hence my post to confirm this with the experts here.

 

[kwi]

Throw in 3ppm ammonia and test after 24 hours, if both ammonia and nitrites are 0 you're cycled.

 

[Holyship26]

Throw in 3ppm ammonia and test after 24 hours, if both ammonia and nitrites are 0 you're cycled.

Yep did that earlier today so will retest same time tomorrow