Is It Done?

[InaneCathode]

I'm pretty sure my tank is done cycling. Is there an easy way to find out if its actually ready for fish or not?

 

[sic0198]

Test it for ammonia, if ther is none than you are good to go.

 

[InaneCathode]

Test it for ammonia, if ther is none than you are good to go.

Er, i dont think you know what i'm talking about

 

[Underwurlde]

The end result of cycling is that you will see levels of Nitrate (and consistently low or zero levels of Ammonia and Nitrite).

Andy

 

[Miss Wiggle]

are you talking fishless cycling or cycling with fish?

 

[InaneCathode]

are you talking fishless cycling or cycling with fish?

Fishless.
What i mean is... Like, do i add 5ppm of ammonia then in X hours both ammonia and nitrite should be at zero? Right now they're both at zero, but if i add fish there might not be enough bacteria to process their waste.
And yes, i'm maintaining it with 3 ppm ish of ammonia a day.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i think you should add the ammonia, wait 24hrs then test the water, if it's reducing it down to 0 within 24hrs it's done, you then do a large water change and go add your fish

 

[gsta13]

if you have been keeping it topped up everyday and today there is none you will be ok, just start off slowy adding fish dont wack all your stock in at once and all will be fine
i think.....
Greg

 

[Squid]

i think you should add the ammonia, wait 24hrs then test the water, if it's reducing it down to 0 within 24hrs it's done, you then do a large water change and go add your fish

That is reducing both the Ammonia and Nitrite down to 0.. ;-) .. I know wiggle knows this, i'm just making sure it was understood...

Squid

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i think you should add the ammonia, wait 24hrs then test the water, if it's reducing it down to 0 within 24hrs it's done, you then do a large water change and go add your fish

That is reducing both the Ammonia and Nitrite down to 0.. ;-) .. I know wiggle knows this, i'm just making sure it was understood...

Squid

ha ha yeah excuse my lack of clarity, first day back at work.... still suffering from xmas and nye!

 

[Squid]

if you have been keeping it topped up everyday and today there is none you will be ok, just start off slowy adding fish dont wack all your stock in at once and all will be fine
i think.....
Greg

Bit of a debate about that really. If the tank has been fully cycled to support a level of bio-load, then a fairly full stocking should be ok. Where people go wrong (like i did by being a bit of a novice), is that they stock the tank with fish that need a more mature tank. Cycled does not mean mature. I added things like Panda cory's too early, and angel fish. These were my casualties. Even though the stats where correct, it doesn't mean it can support the fish. That comes with time.

Good luck
Squid

i think you should add the ammonia, wait 24hrs then test the water, if it's reducing it down to 0 within 24hrs it's done, you then do a large water change and go add your fish

That is reducing both the Ammonia and Nitrite down to 0.. ;-) .. I know wiggle knows this, i'm just making sure it was understood...

Squid

ha ha yeah excuse my lack of clarity, first day back at work.... still suffering from xmas and nye!

tell me about it...

Squid