Is My Tank Really Not Cycled?

[tanzen]

I've had my tank up for about a month or two. I -thought- i had cycled it before i started adding fish and i even added beneficial bacteria to my tank before stocking. I've never had any nitrates and i thought that that just meant that i kept really good quality water (i have read about the nitrogen cycle.)

Now recently i've been having ammonia spikes every week. I just read a site when totally not searching for anything related to this, and read that my tank hasnt even cycled yet!

is this true?

 

[gaz gun man]

I've had my tank up for about a month or two. I -thought- i had cycled it before i started adding fish and i even added beneficial bacteria to my tank before stocking. I've never had any nitrates and i thought that that just meant that i kept really good quality water (i have read about the nitrogen cycle.)

Now recently i've been having ammonia spikes every week. I just read a site when totally not searching for anything related to this, and read that my tank hasnt even cycled yet!

is this true?

washing the filter media recently under tap water would've destroyed some of not all of your benefical bacteria, hence why you are seeing the spikes now. Prior to that, I dont know.

The bacteria in a bottle (I guess this is what you used?) is next to useless and wont do anything to cycle a tank.

Just keep an eye on the ammonia/nitrite levels and do regular water changes. I appreciate its alot of work, but its what needs to be done I'm afraid

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, this is correct information!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[tanzen]

I've had my tank up for about a month or two. I -thought- i had cycled it before i started adding fish and i even added beneficial bacteria to my tank before stocking. I've never had any nitrates and i thought that that just meant that i kept really good quality water (i have read about the nitrogen cycle.)

Now recently i've been having ammonia spikes every week. I just read a site when totally not searching for anything related to this, and read that my tank hasnt even cycled yet!

is this true?

washing the filter media recently under tap water would've destroyed some of not all of your benefical bacteria, hence why you are seeing the spikes now. Prior to that, I dont know.

The bacteria in a bottle (I guess this is what you used?) is next to useless and wont do anything to cycle a tank.

Just keep an eye on the ammonia/nitrite levels and do regular water changes. I appreciate its alot of work, but its what needs to be done I'm afraid

well dang.
thanks so much for all of your help on my other post as well

 

[gaz gun man]

happy to help