Gettin A Bit Confused!

[ben1987]

Set up my tank and filled it with water. at first i had added too much ammonia and didnt realise for about 5 days, did a 50% water change then and it brought the ammonia levels down a bit.These levels have been slowly dropping ever since. The thing is my Nitrate levels are about 20ppm and nitrite 1/2ppm but i havent had to add amonia again since the first dose. iv read different stories that say things like adding every 24hrs and things am i goin wrong? do those figures mean my tank is cycling?

 

[dwarfgourami]

There are two ways of cycling, both of which seem to work. One involves adding more ammonia every 24 hours, the other bringing the ammonia up to 5 ppm, then letting it sink and adding more when it's gone- in either case, the tank is cycled once both the ammonia and the nitrites go back to 0 in 24 hours. Sounds like you're on the way, things are moving in your tank. But you will probably have to add ammonia a few more times, before you are finally there.

 

[BigIan]

you also want to test your tap water to see what the nitrates are from that. but yep your on the move with your cycle. i used the add and wait method of fishless cycle. i brought the ammonia up to 5 ppm, waited for it to drop back to one or 2 ppm then brought it back up, i tested every day to see the nitrite spike and fall, and when i wass adding more ammonia every day i did a 90% water change and added my fish

 

[ben1987]

ok thats gr8 cheers...was just gettin a lil confused about all the different stories and stuff id read