Is My New 55 Gallon Tank Cycled?

[zaitchev]

Question.

I set up my new 55 gallon tank on Wednesday. I added substrate (about 8-10 pounds of gravel) from two seperately established 10 gallon tanks. I also added a filter from one of the 10 gallon tanks, because I put an extra one in there about three weeks ago for another reason that didn't pan out, and some plant decorations from those tanks. I also added active bacteria, but not enough--only enough for 15 gallons or so.

I've been adding quite a bit of fish flakes and brine fish pellets daily. Also, every winged bug in my house found its way into my tank. I can't tell, however, if my tank is completely cycled, almost cycled, or no where near cycled. The ammonia reads at .25ppm, which is my experience, isn't that bad; my general tap water reads as that.

I'm getting my final decorations late Monday. I have a three inch pleco in a ten gallon and the poor guy's completely outgrown his tank. There's also that inch and a half dalmatian Molly. I want to get them into the larger tank ASAP, but not if it will hurt them.

 

[phantomlink]

What are you Nitrites and Nitrates looking like?

 

[Murrayjane]

My advice: Either purchase a test kit (you will need to eventually anyway) or a "test subject" (common platy, guppy, little goldfish). Everything seems like it should be alright, but if you are planning on adding any unique expensive fish I wouldn't risk it without being sure.

(I don't support the idea of using the test subject, but it is better to risk the life of something that fast breeds (common) than losing the life of a true beauty).

 

[jkarlson]

No you are not cycled. Your ammonia and nitrites should read 0. Exactly 0. Not .25 or .1. 0. Adding the old filter will help kickstart it a bit, but it still takes time.

 

[phantomlink]

No you are not cycled. Your ammonia and nitrites should read 0. Exactly 0. Not .25 or .1. 0. Adding the old filter will help kickstart it a bit, but it still takes time.

The API testkit can be so sensitive that the smallest amount of ammonia (0.1) can make it look like its 0.25. Yes ideally you want 0 but 0.25 isnt fatal. The nitrogen cycle isnt instant and theres a chance you could be testing the water shortly after some fish have just gone to the washroom

 

[zaitchev]

Well, I'm using the drop test kit for ammonia, and the strips for everything else. I plan to invest in the drops when the strips run out.

I'm stumped about the ammonia. Yesterday I must have added a handful of fish food. The ammonia, at its height, was 50ppm. Now it looks to be at 25ppm again. I have a hard time reading the drop kits, too.

N03 is less than 10. It looks like NO2 is .5.

The science in me suggest these measurements don't add up. Help?

 

[phantomlink]

What kind of test kit are you using? The API one goes from 4ppm to 8ppm as a max how did you get it to 50?

 

[Murrayjane]

The way I see it, this is how you know that it is safe to put your fish in the tank or not.

If you have:
Your 55 gallon set up and have cycled the water for 48+ hours
Your cycling the water with a filter powerful enough for a 55+ gallon tank
You've allowed 24-48 hours for the gravel substrate to settle

If this has all been accomplished within the last 48 hours, your fish should be safe. (provided your not using any harmful chemical decorations etc...)

Some people suggest to cycle a 55 gallon for 1-4 weeks. I have never had a problem introducing fish after 2-3 days of cycling with a 55 or below.

Note: If you are using soil substrate (fertilizer substrate for plants) then you need to wait a few weeks to a month and do a lot more research.

Hope this helps!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

The way I see it, this is how you know that it is safe to put your fish in the tank or not.

If you have:
Your 55 gallon set up and have cycled the water for 48+ hours
Your cycling the water with a filter powerful enough for a 55+ gallon tank
You've allowed 24-48 hours for the gravel substrate to settle

If this has all been accomplished within the last 48 hours, your fish should be safe. (provided your not using any harmful chemical decorations etc...)

Some people suggest to cycle a 55 gallon for 1-4 weeks. I have never had a problem introducing fish after 2-3 days of cycling with a 55 or below.

Note: If you are using soil substrate (fertilizer substrate for plants) then you need to wait a few weeks to a month and do a lot more research.

Hope this helps!

Assumming you have a bioload able to compete with the fish you add, Introducing fish two to three days after setup is not the best option. Did you test you water everyday or were you lucky enough not to have fish die?

zaitchev, unless you tank had an ammonia source such as food, or pure janitorial ammonia added to the tank, you tank is not cycled. It take a while for the filter to build a colony of A-bacs and N-Bacs to do away with the waste produced from your fish. Look into the beginners recourse section for tips regarding fishless and fish-in cycle. It helped me out a lot when I started out. Also, you said your tap water has a ammonia in it. When you filter can rid the tank of that ammonia in 12 hours, you know you are on the right track. I have 1ppm of ammonia in mine, and its gone within 6 hours of a water change. PLease Please Please, read the beginners resource. If you need o move you fish, check out fish-in cycles. It will tell you how to cycle your tank while it has fish in it, and how to keep your fish safe during that time. Good luck!!