I've Cycled A Million Times, But What Does This Mean?

[Jesse]

 

[Fishmanic]

I would think it would mean you are in the early stages of cycling where ammonia is at 2ppm but bacs for converting it to nitrite and then nitrates have not yet started to produce in enough quanitity to be causing  a rise in either nitrites or nitrates.   Did you start cycling using ammonia?  If so, you should aim for enough ammonia to produce 3ppm ammonia.  It will take several days for nitrites to show up followed by nitrates rising.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I'm a little confused as to what you're asking about. How did you cycle your previous tanks?
 
It looks like you have a reading of ammonia, no nitrite, and some nitrates. What are you wanting to know? Have you read THIS?

 

[Jesse]

Sorry I guess I didn't phrase this well...I know how to cycle a tank I've done it for years, but I've never had ANY nitrate readings within the first week. It just struck me as odd.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Oh I see. Did you use any filter media from another tank or anything? Have you tested your tap water?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Chances are, the nitrate reading you're getting, it's very low anyway, is probably from your tap water.

From my own tap water I get between 10 to 20 ppm nitrates.

Also don't forget, nitrate test can be a little unreliable to the reagent solution needing to be shaken like there's no tomorrow!

At this stage, you're still in beginning of Fishless cycle stages.

Good luck with that and hope its a fast cycle, especially if you're using media from one of your established tanks if you've any.