Is My Tank Cycled?

[SLIM]

Hi everyone

For the past 3 weeks iv been cycling my new 260L tank using pure ammonia.
I used all of the mature media from my previous tank so it flew through the stages.

Ammonia dropped to 0 in 2 days and nitrite dropped to 0 after 6 days.

Im now at the point where im still adding 4-5ppm of ammonia every 24hrs and the ammonia drops to 0 in under 10 hours which is great, but the nitrites however take abit longer and probably drop to zero after about 19-20 hours.(after adding the ammonia)

Iv had these same results for over a week now, and everythin i read suggest BOTH have to drop within 12hrs!

Im cycling at 28c and my PH is 7.6 - 7.8 but raises to 8.2 when i add ammonia.

So the million dolla question.

Am i cycled? Is it safe to buy fish this weekend?
Im not going to fully stock straight away but do plan to buy about 10 small fish to begin with.

Thanx for your advice

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I agree with big bad harry. Looks like you are close, but those nitrites need to zero out in 12 hours. And they will - just hang in there.

 

[Skins]

Hi everyone

For the past 3 weeks iv been cycling my new 260L tank using pure ammonia.
I used all of the mature media from my previous tank so it flew through the stages.

Ammonia dropped to 0 in 2 days and nitrite dropped to 0 after 6 days.

Im now at the point where im still adding 4-5ppm of ammonia every 24hrs and the ammonia drops to 0 in under 10 hours which is great, but the nitrites however take abit longer and probably drop to zero after about 19-20 hours.(after adding the ammonia)

Iv had these same results for over a week now, and everythin i read suggest BOTH have to drop within 12hrs!

Im cycling at 28c and my PH is 7.6 - 7.8 but raises to 8.2 when i add ammonia.

So the million dolla question.

Am i cycled? Is it safe to buy fish this weekend?
Im not going to fully stock straight away but do plan to buy about 10 small fish to begin with.

Thanx for your advice

I don't see any problems Paul for adding 10 small fish.

Keith.

 

[SLIM]

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

Nitrates are off the charts.
Iv been in my qualifying week now tho for about 11 days.
I had a the same problem with the previous 60L tank i cycled.
That was in the qualfying week for about 6 weeks lol and the nitrites could never drop within 12 hours of adding ammonia. 12 hours after ammonia dropping to 0 definately!

So with these results its not safe to add fish yet? baring in mind i only want about 9-small fish and it is a 260L tank so i wont need huge ammounts of bacteria??

 

[Gvilleguy]

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

Nitrates are off the charts.
Iv been in my qualifying week now tho for about 11 days.
I had a the same problem with the previous 60L tank i cycled.
That was in the qualfying week for about 6 weeks lol and the nitrites could never drop within 12 hours of adding ammonia. 12 hours after ammonia dropping to 0 definately!

So with these results its not safe to add fish yet? baring in mind i only want about 9-small fish and it is a 260L tank so i wont need huge ammounts of bacteria??

I change my mind then. You can probably go for some small fish.

 

[SLIM]

Hi everyone

For the past 3 weeks iv been cycling my new 260L tank using pure ammonia.
I used all of the mature media from my previous tank so it flew through the stages.

Ammonia dropped to 0 in 2 days and nitrite dropped to 0 after 6 days.

Im now at the point where im still adding 4-5ppm of ammonia every 24hrs and the ammonia drops to 0 in under 10 hours which is great, but the nitrites however take abit longer and probably drop to zero after about 19-20 hours.(after adding the ammonia)

Iv had these same results for over a week now, and everythin i read suggest BOTH have to drop within 12hrs!

Im cycling at 28c and my PH is 7.6 - 7.8 but raises to 8.2 when i add ammonia.

So the million dolla question.

Am i cycled? Is it safe to buy fish this weekend?
Im not going to fully stock straight away but do plan to buy about 10 small fish to begin with.

Thanx for your advice

I don't see any problems Paul for adding 10 small fish.

Keith.

Thanx Keith that was what i was hoping to hear.
Im only going to get 9-10 small fish then im goin to leave it for a month and just observe.
10 small fish shouldnt need that much bacteria right?
If all goes well after the first month il start adding more fish but only 2 a forknight.

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

Nitrates are off the charts.
Iv been in my qualifying week now tho for about 11 days.
I had a the same problem with the previous 60L tank i cycled.
That was in the qualfying week for about 6 weeks lol and the nitrites could never drop within 12 hours of adding ammonia. 12 hours after ammonia dropping to 0 definately!

So with these results its not safe to add fish yet? baring in mind i only want about 9-small fish and it is a 260L tank so i wont need huge ammounts of bacteria??

I change my mind then. You can probably go for some small fish.

Brilliant thanx for your support

 

[Skins]

Hi everyone

For the past 3 weeks iv been cycling my new 260L tank using pure ammonia.
I used all of the mature media from my previous tank so it flew through the stages.

Ammonia dropped to 0 in 2 days and nitrite dropped to 0 after 6 days.

Im now at the point where im still adding 4-5ppm of ammonia every 24hrs and the ammonia drops to 0 in under 10 hours which is great, but the nitrites however take abit longer and probably drop to zero after about 19-20 hours.(after adding the ammonia)

Iv had these same results for over a week now, and everythin i read suggest BOTH have to drop within 12hrs!

Im cycling at 28c and my PH is 7.6 - 7.8 but raises to 8.2 when i add ammonia.

So the million dolla question.

Am i cycled? Is it safe to buy fish this weekend?
Im not going to fully stock straight away but do plan to buy about 10 small fish to begin with.

Thanx for your advice

I don't see any problems Paul for adding 10 small fish.

Keith.

Thanx Keith that was what i was hoping to hear.
Im only going to get 9-10 small fish then im goin to leave it for a month and just observe.
10 small fish shouldnt need that much bacteria right?
If all goes well after the first month il start adding more fish but only 2 a forknight.

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

Nitrates are off the charts.
Iv been in my qualifying week now tho for about 11 days.
I had a the same problem with the previous 60L tank i cycled.
That was in the qualfying week for about 6 weeks lol and the nitrites could never drop within 12 hours of adding ammonia. 12 hours after ammonia dropping to 0 definately!

So with these results its not safe to add fish yet? baring in mind i only want about 9-small fish and it is a 260L tank so i wont need huge ammounts of bacteria??

I change my mind then. You can probably go for some small fish.

Brilliant thanx for your support

Just keep an eye on your water parameters BUT i really see there being no issues.

Keith.

 

[SLIM]

Hi everyone

For the past 3 weeks iv been cycling my new 260L tank using pure ammonia.
I used all of the mature media from my previous tank so it flew through the stages.

Ammonia dropped to 0 in 2 days and nitrite dropped to 0 after 6 days.

Im now at the point where im still adding 4-5ppm of ammonia every 24hrs and the ammonia drops to 0 in under 10 hours which is great, but the nitrites however take abit longer and probably drop to zero after about 19-20 hours.(after adding the ammonia)

Iv had these same results for over a week now, and everythin i read suggest BOTH have to drop within 12hrs!

Im cycling at 28c and my PH is 7.6 - 7.8 but raises to 8.2 when i add ammonia.

So the million dolla question.

Am i cycled? Is it safe to buy fish this weekend?
Im not going to fully stock straight away but do plan to buy about 10 small fish to begin with.

Thanx for your advice

I don't see any problems Paul for adding 10 small fish.

Keith.

Thanx Keith that was what i was hoping to hear.
Im only going to get 9-10 small fish then im goin to leave it for a month and just observe.
10 small fish shouldnt need that much bacteria right?
If all goes well after the first month il start adding more fish but only 2 a forknight.

It is not cycled until both ammonia and nitrite are processed to 0ppm in 10-12hrs.

A further week of double zeros can be aimed for to ensure things are ok. This is called qualifying week.

What is your nitrate at?

If you look at my link, my cycle log is displayed and shows the nitrites can be a pain but will eventually get there.

Nitrates are off the charts.
Iv been in my qualifying week now tho for about 11 days.
I had a the same problem with the previous 60L tank i cycled.
That was in the qualfying week for about 6 weeks lol and the nitrites could never drop within 12 hours of adding ammonia. 12 hours after ammonia dropping to 0 definately!

So with these results its not safe to add fish yet? baring in mind i only want about 9-small fish and it is a 260L tank so i wont need huge ammounts of bacteria??

I change my mind then. You can probably go for some small fish.

Brilliant thanx for your support

Just keep an eye on your water parameters BUT i really see there being no issues.

Keith.

Thanx again mate

Just to put it out there, the 9 small fish im getting are 6 small young angelfish and 3 small pearl gouramis
(1male 2female)
I dont plan to keep the 6 angelfish forever, the plan is to get 6 and wait for 2 to pair then rehome the other 4.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Thanx again mate

Just to put it out there, the 9 small fish im getting are 6 small young angelfish and 3 small pearl gouramis
(1male 2female)
I dont plan to keep the 6 angelfish forever, the plan is to get 6 and wait for 2 to pair then rehome the other 4.

Good luck with the Angels. My tank was not quite large enough for them, but I wish I had one, anyway.

 

[SLIM]

Thanx again mate

Just to put it out there, the 9 small fish im getting are 6 small young angelfish and 3 small pearl gouramis
(1male 2female)
I dont plan to keep the 6 angelfish forever, the plan is to get 6 and wait for 2 to pair then rehome the other 4.

Good luck with the Angels. My tank was not quite large enough for them, but I wish I had one, anyway.

Angels are great fish aint they.
I just checked out your youtube vid. Very nice tank! Love the way your fish glow in the dark! Looks awesome!!
Where did u get the suckers that stick your airline hose to the glass.
Any chance u can sort me out a link to buy some as i really could do with some of these.

If you want, send me an invite on Facebook and checkout pics of my tank. Iv tried uploading on here loads of times but for some reason it never lets me. If u do, send me a message with your friend request jus saying your Gvilleguy. Your find me under the name Paul Steven Holman

 

[Gvilleguy]

Paul - I just posted a reply to you on my video, not realizing you had also asked here. I'll paste it here, too:

I got them at Petsmart. I first tried a pack of just suckers - but they were too small. So I bought the Top Fin "11-piece air connector kit", which came with two bigger suckers.

Air hose connector kit

The way that I get pictures to post on here is with a free Flickr account. If you want to add pics to your threads, you just reference the HTML code that you can look up on each of your pictures at Flickr.

 

[SLIM]

My aquarium photos

 

[SLIM]

My photos

 

[Gvilleguy]

Wow - nice setup! Assume the filter pipes are going right through the bottom of the tank? How are those puppies sealed against leaking?