Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20...

[sarahmom22]

I still haven't been able to get out to purchase an ammonia test kit, but my Nitrite level is FINALLY reading 0, and it has been for about a week! I hope this means my tank has cycled Is this correct? The 2 Gourami's, 3 Platy's and 3 Guppies that I began the cycling with have all survived, thankfully, however, before knowing better I had added some neons and I lost 5 out of 10 of them It's ok though, now that my tank has cycled (I think) I should be safe!!!

How long should I wait before adding more fish? How many should I add at a time. OH, it's a 40 Gallon tank

 

[Amunet]

You need to go out and get yourself an ammonia test kit.
I thought my tank was done cycling... it currently has 0 Nitrites after it had spiked for a while and a pretty steady 10 nitrates.
However, my ammonia levels started to rise again.....

So your tank could possibly be cycled, but you won't know for sure until you check your ammonia

 

[sarahmom22]

Ok, I will have to do that. Have 2 sick kids at the moment, so I haven't been out anywhere lately

 

[Irf]

How long should I wait before adding more fish?

You must get an ammonia test to make sure that it's also zero.

And when you cycle with fish and have a few to start you off, you can only add further fish slowly. This is because if your cycle actually has finished, the tank is now capable of handling that number of fish. Once you add more fish the tank will "mini-cycle", meaning that it will take some weeks to once again become stable. Then (capacity permitting) you could add more, etc.

Irf.