Is This Normal?

[Rob5]

I am on day 30 of cycling my 22 litre Nano tank and the test readings are:
 
Ammonia   0ppm
 
Nitrite         0ppm
 
Nitrate       160ppm
 
The nitrate might be higher but the scale on my API test kit stops at 160ppm
 
Is this a normal reading when cycling tanks?

 

[Corey90]

Not really.  What is the source of your water?  What is your substrate?  Is there anything in your tank?

 

[Rob5]

It is tap water with black sand. In the tank is a piece of bog wood and java fern and moss

 

[Corey90]

City water shouldn't have natural nitrate in it.  Where did your piece of wood come from?  

 

[ShinySideUp]

I am on day 30 of cycling my 22 litre Nano tank and the test readings are:
 
Ammonia   0ppm
 
Nitrite         0ppm
 
Nitrate       160ppm
 
The nitrate might be higher but the scale on my API test kit stops at 160ppm
 
Is this a normal reading when cycling tanks?

 
I don't see a problem. If your ammonia and nitrite drop to zero within 24 hours of adding ammonia then the waste products will result in an increase in nitrates, it will also mean your tank is cycled. If this is the case, change all your water down to the substrate to remove any remaining traces of ammonia, refill, wait 24 hours for temperature stabilization then add all your fish at once. Seems like a textbook cycle to me.

 

[Rob5]

Thanks for that ShinySideUp
 
I already added some more ammonia yesterday and it has dropped down to zero
 
This was the first time i have done an ammonia cycle so was getting confused with the results
 
I will change the water and then sort out my order for my cherry shrimp

 

[ShinySideUp]

Keep going with the ammonia until 24 hours before you are ready to add livestock, you still want the bacteria to be fed until there is another source of nutrient.
 
Do the water change, then 24 hours later, add your livestock.