Is My Tank Already Cycled? Just After 4 Days?

[ey2006]

Hi, I recently got a new tank (240L) and began cycling it on Sunday. Ammonia is not allowed to be sold in Australia so I couldn't choose to do a fishless cycle. Instead, I used 6 plattys and 6 danios to do the cycle.

I used the following items with bacteria from my other established tank:

- gravel
- filter squeezings
- plants
- ornaments

This might have sped up the process, but I didn't expect it to be this quick!!

On Sunday when I started the cycling process, the water stats:

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 7.2

Monday:

Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 7.2

Tuesday:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 10
Ph 7.4

Wednesday:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Ph 7.2

Does this imply that the tank has almost completed cycling? I've read that ammonia nor nitrite has to peak at high levels in order for the cycle to be successful, as long as there is some ammonia/nitrite present during the process, then thats fine (since this is not a fishless cycle).

 

[karlp]

If you've added bacteria from the other tank, then it is normal to see the new tank just do a mini-cycle, although 4 days is quick, mine took 7 last time I did this.

How much gravel did you transfer and did your old tank have an undergravel filter ?

Just keep monitoring the Ammonia and Nitrite to be on the safe side and don't add any fish until it's been stable at 0 for a couple of weeks.

Cheers

 

[trace1]

i think that you would see some nitrAte radings if it was fully cycled

 

[ey2006]

If you've added bacteria from the other tank, then it is normal to see the new tank just do a mini-cycle, although 4 days is quick, mine took 7 last time I did this.

How much gravel did you transfer and did your old tank have an undergravel filter ?

Just keep monitoring the Ammonia and Nitrite to be on the safe side and don't add any fish until it's been stable at 0 for a couple of weeks.

Cheers

Thanks fishy mad, by mini-cycle, does that mean the tank hasn't actually completed the cycle yet?

I transferred roughly about a third of the gravel from the old tank to the new tank, so the gravel from the old tank probably makes up about 20-25% of the new tanks gravel.

I'll continue monitoring ammonia and nitrite over the new week to see if they rise.

i think that you would see some nitrAte radings if it was fully cycled

Hi Trace1, thanks for the reply. Sorry about my initial post, I had a typo as there actually were Nitrate readings yesterday and today! Either way, I'll keep a close eye on the water stats over the coming week.