How Can I Tell If My Tank Has Cycled Properly?

[bever_lee]

Hey,
I just got a 20 gallon tank, and I've been running my mature filter in it for the past couple days. I realize that this is not enough time to build up a satisfactory bacterial level, but how will I know when my tank has cycled properly? I've read the sticky on fishless cycling, is it a similar process of observing the nitrate and ammonia?

 

[archamfr]

u mean mature media from a previous tamnk right?
okay, for the tank to cycle, ull need some amonia in the water, so the bacteria in the filter media can 'eat' it up, causing them to multiply and the amonia levels to go down. once the amonia levels are at zero agen, then its cycled.
you could either get pure amonia in a bottle ( ask around) and add a little, check water levels daily to see when its gopne agen-
or- add a couple fish.. observe water levels .

obviously the amonia in a bottle method would be ideal, but if your filter media is mature there should be no problem with adding a couple fish to get it built up agen. when i say a couple i mean literally that, not big fish either.

 

[Rooster]

Its the filter you are cycling NOT the tank !! If the filter was previously in a working tank and was put in the new DIRECTLY then theres no need to wait, however, if the filter stood for more than say, a few hours, then you must start afresh.
Also, if the filter WAS working and transferred immediatly... its probably starved to death anyway, unless you have added either fish or a source of ammonia ! The only way to tell is with a test kit

 

[doresy]

As stated the only way to find out is to put enough ammonia in to raise it to 5ppm. Then if it has gone back to zero within 6-8 hours and no nitrIte is present and minimal nitrAte the the filter is cycled. Obviously you will need a liquid testing kit.

My guess is you will need to start again

 

[rdd1952]

The short answer is, that if you are doing a fishless cycle, then your tank is cycled when it can completely process 4 to 5 ppm of ammonia back to zero ammonia and nitrite in about 10 hours

If you are cycling with fish, then your tank is cycled for the fish you have in the tank ONLY when you go a full week with ammonia and nitrite at zero the full time.

As mentioned, if you moved your filter from a working, stocked tank to the new tank, you could have added the fish from the original tank immediately and the tank would have been cycled. if you moved the filter but did not move the fish or add ammonia, your bacteria would have died off in about 24 to 48 hours and you would be back to a completely uncycled filter