Cycling Question

[flautist]

I've been testing my water... it's finally almost completely cleared up. Nitites are at 0, Nitrates have dropped to 20 after being spiked around 40 for about a week. Does this mean the cycle is done? Can I do my water change now?

Thanks.

 

[wendywc]

How about the ammonia? And how long has it been cycling? Oh and good going on cycling your tank, most people don't bother doing that for bettas.

 

[flautist]

well, unfortunately, I do not have a test kit for ammonia. Even if I did, though, I use AmmoLock, so the readings wouldn't be accurate. With the Nitrites at 0, and the Nitrates spiked, though, shouldn't that mean the ammonia is also at 0 now?

I've been cycling for about 2-3 weeks... I started with established gravel, so that should have sped things up.

 

[wendywc]

So you haven't been adding ammonia for a fishless cycle? And you've been removing it with ammolock instead? If so, I would guess that once you add your fish, you will get an ammonia and nitrite spike. Your call... I'm unsure.

 

[flautist]

I'm not doing a fishless cycle...

I had a nitrite spike a couple of weeks ago. Then the Nitrate spiked, and the Nitrite went to 0. Then the Nitrate started going down, as well. It went from 40 to 20 in about a week.

 

[soritan]

That's weird, it really shouldn't. The ammonia and the nitrites should be 0, the nitrates should skyrocket unless you've done a water change or introduced beastly hungry plants.

You'll probably have better luck asking this question in the beginner or general sectionn, by the way, as cycling isn't really betta specific.

 

[flautist]

yeah, the nitrites are 0, and the nitrates spiked. When they were spiked, I was also having a problem with really cloudy water from Maracyn. So, I did a water change. Sorry, I forgot to mention that. So, this means the cycle is done, then?

Thanks.