Cycling

[shepp41]

Hi I'm cycling my tank its had fish in it for over a month I now have seven fish (all for over a month ) when I test the water ammonia nitrates and nitrites are all in the safe range.Is the cycle about done?Could I add fish or maybe a plant or two to help things along.By the way it is a 40little gal tank if that has anything to do with it.
Thanks for any thoughts or ideas
Ron

 

[fluttermoth]

What were the actual numbers from your last tests?

'In the safe range' is simply not accurate enough for us to be able to tell how close to being fully cycled you are, I'm afraid.

 

[the_lock_man]

+1

 

[shepp41]

What were the actual numbers from your last tests?

'In the safe range' is simply not accurate enough for us to be able to tell how close to being fully cycled you are, I'm afraid.

Sorry the ammonia is.25 and the nitrate ph is7.2 alkalinity is everything 80 and tbe hardnessis 75soft nitrite is 0the nitrates are 20
Thanh you

 

[fluttermoth]

If you have any ammonia or nitrite showing your tank isn't yet cycled and you shouldn't get any more fish until you've zeros on both those for at least a week (without needing to do a water change).

You're fine to add more plants though.

 

[shepp41]

Do you mean zeros for ammonil,nitrates and nitrites?
Thanks for the cycling info.

 

[4seasons]

Do you mean zeros for ammonil,nitrates and nitrites?
Thanks for the cycling info.

0ppm ammonia 0ppm nitrite and some nitrate are good. If you read up on cycling in the beginner resource section you will see that nitrate is the end result of the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate only becomes a problem at high levels unlike ammonia and nitrite which are dangerous at even the lowest levels. As long as you nitrate is under 40 ppm you don't have a problem with nitrate.

 

[shepp41]

Thank you for all of you're information