Is My Tank Cycled (based On These Test Results)?

[ey2006]

My tank has been running just shy of 8 weeks now and after changing 20% of the water earlier this morning, I tested the water a little earlier and the results are:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
PH 7.2

The 29g tank currently has 2 small plattys, 1 bristlenose pleco and 1 neon in it.

I've been testing the water daily during this week and Ammonia has been 0 the whole time, while Nitrite has gone from a high of 5.0, down to 0.

Since I didn't do a fishless cycle (wish I found out about it when I started out), I don't think I can stock most of the tank at once, hence would I be able to start slowly adding fish to the tank now?

 

[Ginge]

Did you record or can you remember previous weeks tests?

 

[ey2006]

No, sorry, I only bought the test kits this week, hence I don't know what the water was like in previous weeks...I should have purchased the test kits right from the start.

 

[WILDER]

Yes the results say cycled.

 

[wendywc]

Did you have an algae bloom? If so and ith thise results, you are cycled.

 

[ey2006]

Yes the results say cycled.

Hi Wilder, thank you! I'm so glad and happy my tank has finally cycled as previously, I 'thought' the tank had cycled and added fish in too soon....

I am going to continue to monitor and test the water to make sure it stays at these safe levels and look out for a mini-cycle when adding fish.

Btw, the photos of your panda corys look gorgeous! I'm thinking of getting corys too, but might stick with bronze/albino or peppered ones as they seem to be hardier.

Did you have an algae bloom? If so and ith thise results, you are cycled.

I'm not sure if I had an algae bloom...how can I test for this? I have a bristlenose pleco in there so I'm guessing he's eating all the algae?

 

[WILDER]

Thanks, yes panda are not very hardy i would stick with the others, always check stats before buying fish, and don't add to many just a few as the tank can go into a mini cycle, good luck.
The tank goes cloudy with a bacterial bloom, some fish keeprss don't always get it though, keep the substrate clean with bottom feeders, plus plecs are big waste producers.

 

[wendywc]

There's no way to test if you had an algae bloom. You don't remember a white cloud or cloudiness in the tank? But considering how much time you've had the tank, I tend to agree with Wilder.