Yet Another Cycling Question. :)

[toomie]

My 3 gallon tank is almost cycled for my betta (I think). Today the readings are: ammonia - 0 nitrite - 0 nitrate - 10.

Nitrate has fallen from 2 days ago. So my question is, when it gets to zero, do I do a water change (50 - 75%?) and wait 2 or 3 more days to make sure everything is still zero before adding my betta? also, My 5 gallon has a PH of 7.6. Is this way too high for a betta? Still have to check the PH in the 3 gallon. And last but not least, do I vacuum the gravel when I do the final water change? I used fish food to cycle the tank, not pure ammonia.

Oh, yeah, I have been cycling this tank for about 5 weeks now, maybe a little longer; ammonia has spiked, nitrite has spiked, etc.....

TIA

 

[fatheadminnow]

Keep on adding ammonia every 24 hours like you have been doing.

Now, since your Ammonia and NitrIte (not NitrAte) are at zero, you keep on adding ammonia like you have been for another week.

This is called the "finalizing" week or "qualifying" week.

Keep on monitoring your water Parameters, and your ammonia and Nitrite should be at zero this whole time.

Don't be alarmed if you get a small NitrIte spike, a NitrIte spikes are prone to happen in the Qualifier week.

At the end of that week, do a 90% water change, and then you will be able to add your betta.

-FHM

 

[arobinson1984]

Complete your final week of adding ammonia and is it is processed everyday within 12 hours, your cycle is complete.

Your nitrate reading shouldn't really fall, you should always have a nitrate reading showing unless maybe if you have live plants as they help reduce nitrate.

If you have had your ammonia spike and your nitrITE spike and both can be processed by your filter in 12 hours then your tank has cycled, finish the final week, do a 50 - 70% change to clear up your water and you are good to go. NitrATES are ok as long as they are below 40ppm so just keep an eye of the readings and do weekly water changes to keep your nitrATE levels down.

Andy

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your nitrate reading shouldn't really fall, you should always have a nitrate reading showing unless maybe if you have live plants as they help reduce nitrate.

If you have had your ammonia spike and your nitrITE spike and both can be processed by your filter in 12 hours then your tank has cycled, do a 50 - 70% change to clear up your water and you are good to go. NitrATES are ok as long as they are below 40ppm so just keep an eye of the readings and do weekly water changes to keep your nitrATE levels down.

Andy

You want to continue doing the fishless cycle after the cycle has completed (Ammonia spiked, then NitrIte spiked, now at zero) for another week.

NitrIte is prone to spike a little during the qualifying week, and this is best to happen with fish out of the tank.

At the end of the qualifying week, do a 90% water change, and you are good to add your fish.

-FHM