Quick Cycle Question

[Bojangles]

So this morning my tank is showing for the 1st time

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 7.6
4
So my question is do i keep adding 5ppm of ammonia for a few days to make sure everything stays at 0 after 24 hours or cut back on the amount of ammonia?

 

[LauraFrog]

Check that ammonia and nitrite are both reading zero. Then add 5ppm of ammonia. After 24 hours, test again. If the ammonia and nitrite are both reading zero, do a large water change and add 5ppm again. If after another 24 hours your readings are zero, it is safe to add fish.

 

[Bojangles]

Check that ammonia and nitrite are both reading zero. Then add 5ppm of ammonia. After 24 hours, test again. If the ammonia and nitrite are both reading zero, do a large water change and add 5ppm again. If after another 24 hours your readings are zero, it is safe to add fish.

Thnx

Was not 100% sure if i should keep topping up 5 ppm but will do now

 

[Tropicoll]

Couple of things I found out:

1. don't forget to do the 12 hour check too!
2. As Laura said, keep adding the ammonia as the A and N bacs will still need to feed.

Varying opinion (from reading the threads on here) is that you shouldn't put the ammonia in for 24 hours before purchasing the fish - then you can make sure that the readings really are 0 just before you go get them.

Collin

 

[OldMan47]

What topping up will do now is keep your bacteria healthy. You worked so long to establish that bacterial colony that it would be a shame to lose them. I presently have an empty 10 gallon, how often does that happen, that I am maintaining with ammonia until I decide what fish I want in it.

 

[Bojangles]

Thnx for the advice

Another quick question

Should i been seeing Nitrite dropping over course of 12 hours? Just did tests and Nitrite seems to be sky high

 

[backtotropical]

Nitrite should be dropping to 0 within 12 hours too.

To consider your filter "cycled", you should be able to add 5ppm of ammonia, then test for ammonia and nitrite 12 hours later, and get 0 readings for both.

Once you achieve this for the first time, i'd advise to then keep adding ammonia until you have seen the filter consistently clear 5ppm of ammonia (and the subsequent nitrite) for at least 5 days in a row.

This will ensure that the zero readings aren't just a one-off, and give you some assurance that it is safe to stock the tank.

Cheers

BTT