My Test Readings :0)

[waterdrop]

 

[OldMan47]

You have just tripled your biological load on an uncycled tank. I sure hope you are ready to deal with the resulting need for large water changes.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree. You'll need to be testing at least twice a day now.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[aly_starh]

DAY: 3
TIME: 8.00pm (2nd test of the day)
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /


DAY: 4
TIME: 11.00am
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /


I think i'm really getting there. Another 3 days with these readings and i think i should have a cycled tank!!!!

EDIT... Should i have had an ammonia spike?

 

[waterdrop]

I guess that either the filter that had been cycling for 3 weeks prior to you getting it was pretty well cycled and you are indeed reaching the end of a fish-in cycle OR you are not really cycled at all and the spikes have not begun yet. Let's hope its the former. Have you performed any comparisons of Nitrate(NO3) levels in the tap water vs. the tank water?

I assume that a slash character means you did not perform a water change. If you don't have a lot of plants, I'd like to see some nitrate showing up in the tank (in fact it would be nice to be reassured that we don't have any zeolite or other ammonia chemical filtration in the fitler) but if we don't have any unusual problems like that then getting through a week showing no ammonia or nitrites and doing no water changes should make us very hopeful that you are cycled.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[aly_starh]

I guess that either the filter that had been cycling for 3 weeks prior to you getting it was pretty well cycled and you are indeed reaching the end of a fish-in cycle OR you are not really cycled at all and the spikes have not begun yet. Let's hope its the former. Have you performed any comparisons of Nitrate(NO3) levels in the tap water vs. the tank water?

I assume that a slash character means you did not perform a water change. If you don't have a lot of plants, I'd like to see some nitrate showing up in the tank (in fact it would be nice to be reassured that we don't have any zeolite or other ammonia chemical filtration in the fitler) but if we don't have any unusual problems like that then getting through a week showing no ammonia or nitrites and doing no water changes should make us very hopeful that you are cycled.

~~waterdrop~~

Hi waterdrop. Yes I have not done anywater changes for 4 days now. I have a moderetly planted tank (10 plants). I dont have a nitrate test kit ATM
Might get one soon!

 

[OldMan47]

WD, this guy is using water changes to manipulate the ammonia and nitrite readings and then asking if the zero with daily water changes mean he is cycled. I can understand his desire to get more fish but please don't encourage him ignoring the fact that daily water changes is the only reason that his fish are still alive. He already tripled his stock rather than do a responsible fishless cycle and is now looking for confirmation that he has not been messing it up badly.

Betta, your tank is not close to being cycled. Try going 3 days without a water change and post your chemical results. What you are doing right now is fooling yourself into believing that you are close. If you keep doing that, you will find yourself on the freshwater emergencies forum trying to find out why all your pretty new fish are dying.

 

[Yanks15]

That filter must have been supercharged. I know it took me 8+weeks to cycle my first tank. It was a 10gal w/ 2 guppies and 2 honey gouramis. By the way betta, which water reading is correct for day 4? The one posted yesterday stated 2pm or today stated 11am? Just not sure of the day count. You would be extremely lucky to be on the finishing end of your cycle. Good luck with it.

 

[waterdrop]

WD, this guy is using water changes to manipulate the ammonia and nitrite readings and then asking if the zero with daily water changes mean he is cycled. I can understand his desire to get more fish but please don't encourage him ignoring the fact that daily water changes is the only reason that his fish are still alive. He already tripled his stock rather than do a responsible fishless cycle and is now looking for confirmation that he has not been messing it up badly.

Betta, your tank is not close to being cycled. Try going 3 days without a water change and post your chemical results. What you are doing right now is fooling yourself into believing that you are close. If you keep doing that, you will find yourself on the freshwater emergencies forum trying to find out why all your pretty new fish are dying.

Ah, serves me right for coming into a thread late without reading all the background (which I still haven't done!) ... I defer to OM47, have never had reason not to trust his judgement. WD

 

[aly_starh]

DAY: 5
TIME: 11.00pm
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /

 

[aly_starh]

DAY: 6
TIME: 1.00pm
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /

 

[aly_starh]

DAY: 7
TIME: 12.00pm
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /

DAY: 8
TIME: 15.00pm
AMMONIA: 0
NITRITE: 0
WATER CHANGE: /

My tank is Fully Cycled!!!!!

 

[OldMan47]

If WATER CHANGE: / means that you did not do one, you may be cycled to the 3 fish level in your tank. That means you could safely add one more fish the same size as those three, then wait a week and see how it goes.