how do you know when your tank is done cycling?

[Yohance]

Hey guys

one question like how do you know when your tank is done cycling(Fishness cycle) I know people say that it’s done cycling when ammonia and nitrite are at 0 and it has some nitrates, but I don’t really understand what that means. For ex: does it mean that let’s say I added 2 ppm of ammonia one day and the next day ammonia goes Down not to 0 but goes down and nitrite spikes but on the 3rd day they both go down to 0 with some nitrates in the tank does that mean my tank is cycled???

 

[Essjay]

The cycle is finished when you add 3 ppm ammonia and 24 hours later both ammonia and nitrite are zero.

 

[Yohance]

Ohh ok, but what if it takes out 1ppm of ammonia and nitrite in 24hours does that also mean the tank is cycled?

 

[Essjay]

No. Both ammonia and nitrite must be zero within 24 hours after adding a 3 ppm dose of ammonia. If they are not zero 24 hours after adding that much ammonia there are not enough bacteria to support a sensibly stocked tankful of fish.

 

[Yohance]

Ohh ok thx, just was not sure

 

[JuiceBox52]

Good luck!