Has My Tank Cycled?

[fatheadminnow]

Nope 7.5-8 is just fine, as long as it is not fluctuating within the tank, all should be just fine.

Couple facts: The beneficial bacteria that colonize in your filters grow best at 29C/85F and a pH of 8.0-8.4.

Yup, let us know what your tap water nitrate is as this will hopefully help us out a lot here!

-FHM

 

[steveb23]

Ok tested tap water and retested tank.

Tap water is also 5. And its exactly the same colour as the tank test.

PH is 8.0

What do I do? - I was hoping to put some more fish in!

Steve

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well, it appears to me that your tank has not really begun to cycle yet. Or, if you do have some bacteria, then the resulting nitrate is being used up by your plants which could be why your nitrate in your tank is no higher than the nitrate in your tap water. The only reason why your ammonia level is so low is because of the plants, (And maybe a few bacteria are processing it to nitrite, then to nitrate, where nitrate is being used by your plants).

Is there anyway you could get some mature filter media from somewhere (LFS), this would really help things move along.

-FHM

 

[steveb23]

I don't think I would know where I could get some from..

 

[OldMan47]

I just did a read through of this thread and came to the conclusion that your plants are helping you control the ammonia levels but the tank has hardly started to cycle at all. Any increase in fish load will mean that you will have exceeded the plant's ability to keep up with the ammonia and you will have serious ammonia problems. For now it would be safer to let things run the way they have been with very low ammonia levels and very few fish. After a while, you should notice that the ammonia no longer can be measured. At that point you will need to keep a close eye on nitrites to avoid any surprises. After both the ammonia and nitrites are fully controlled, with no water changes, is more than soon enough to think about adding any fish.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yup, OM, that is the same conclusion I came up with further up in one of my posts. The OP has found an "equilibrium" so to speak, with the amount of ammonia produced equals the amount of ammonia that the plants can consume. This is rather fortunate as this is really the only thing keeping the fish safe, plus the weekly water changes.

So:

Ap = Ac
Where Ap = Ammonia produced (ammonia from your fish and other decaying matter) and,
Ac = Ammonia consumed by plants.

We can also stick other variables in the equation such as the weekly water changes like:
Ap = Ac + WC
Where WC = Water change.

Like stated above, the ammonia will soon reach an unmeasurable level at which point nitrite will rise, and then fall like the ammonia did. At which point your tank should be cycled!

-FHM

 

[steveb23]

Yup, OM, that is the same conclusion I came up with further up in one of my posts. The OP has found an "equilibrium" so to speak, with the amount of ammonia produced equals the amount of ammonia that the plants can consume. This is rather fortunate as this is really the only thing keeping the fish safe, plus the weekly water changes.

So:

Ap = Ac
Where Ap = Ammonia produced (ammonia from your fish and other decaying matter) and,
Ac = Ammonia consumed by plants.

We can also stick other variables in the equation such as the weekly water changes like:
Ap = Ac + WC
Where WC = Water change.

Like stated above, the ammonia will soon reach an unmeasurable level at which point nitrite will rise, and then fall like the ammonia did. At which point your tank should be cycled!

-FHM

I think you all nailed it on here...now showing signs of cycling, an ammonia spike, a nitrite spike and a nitrate spike....finally!

Only 3 months later than I thought it should have been!

Thanks for all your help!

Steve