Am i cycled?

[Fishingforfish]

Pardon me, these API tests are killer because my eyes and the color chart don't seem to agree with each other. >.> it looks like 0A, 0NI, and 5NA but I could be wrong. I made a thread similar to this just a few days back, because my readings had ammonia and nitrites but no nitrates. That got resolved just a day after.

Yesterday's readings are the exact same as today's readings. 0A, 0NI, 5NA. It's been 2 weeks and 2 days. I'm kinda skeptical because its only been a short amount of time (I was expecting a month), but it seems like it from the readings. What do you think?

 

[haleybeth30]

looks like it to me, as far as it only being 2 wks, I don't know, hope someone else chimes in

 

[aquandrew]

are you doing a fishless cycle? fishless can be done in as little as two weeks

 

[Fishingforfish]

Nope. Fish in!...lol I feel like there's a catch to this that I'm not getting..haha

Otherwise the fish are healthy and active. I think one of the females are holding some fry in. Her stomach looks a tad bit plump but not squared off yet.

 

[George9]

It looks like to me you have a tiny bit of ammonia there, but you look really close to being cycled

 

[Fishingforfish]

It looks like to me you have a tiny bit of ammonia there, but you look really close to being cycled

Ah, so there's the catch. Thank you!!! ill do what I normally do and update this thread on the readings in a week. I didn't think it'd be this fast though, so that definitely took me off guard.

 

[George9]

Ah, so there's the catch. Thank you!!! ill do what I normally do and update this thread on the readings in a week. I didn't think it'd be this fast though, so that definitely took me off guard.

You're definitely really close. Like, probably in 2 days I bet you'll be done. What's your stock?

 

[Coryluv]

To my eyes I'd say 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5 nitrate. I've seen .25 ammonia and it is greener than that tube. They can be hard to read. It gets better with practice. I also make sure my tube and card are dry. I place the tube directly against the card and hold it up in daylight (not sunlight), looking straight through the tube with the tube lit from the front.

 

[Fishingforfish]

You're definitely really close. Like, probably in 2 days I bet you'll be done. What's your stock?

Two platy, in a 10g. They're both females but I guess one kept her fry in so I'm gonna have buy another tank soon. I usually test the water params everyday so ill probably know when everything is leveled out (if my eyes work -.-)..ill update this when I think it's done

 

[Aquamandan]

It looks like to me you have a tiny bit of ammonia there, but you look really close to being cycled

+1 but you are close.

 

[Fishingforfish]

To my eyes I'd say 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5 nitrate. I've seen .25 ammonia and it is greener than that tube. They can be hard to read. It gets better with practice. I also make sure my tube and card are dry. I place the tube directly against the card and hold it up in daylight (not sunlight), looking straight through the tube with the tube lit from the front.

So true about them being hard to read! I find ammonia to be the hardest because of the contrast between the two colors. Thank you! Whether its in between 0 and .25 or just 0, ill be looking out for my water params for the upcoming days. Also, thanks for the tip!

 

[George9]

So true about them being hard to read! I find ammonia to be the hardest because of the contrast between the two colors. Thank you! Whether its in between 0 and .25 or just 0, ill be looking out for my water params for the upcoming days. Also, thanks for the tip!

It could be Inbetween 0 and .25 too, but tomorrow I bet it'll change

 

[Coryluv]

So true about them being hard to read! I find ammonia to be the hardest because of the contrast between the two colors. Thank you! Whether its in between 0 and .25 or just 0, ill be looking out for my water params for the upcoming days. Also, thanks for the tip!

Yes, even when it looks cycled it is good to give it a few days to make sure. In the great scheme of things it is better not to rush. Frankly my ammo never looked zero until I started reading it as described. I actually ran a test on distiller water to find out what 0 looked like.

 

[Fishingforfish]

Yes, even when it looks cycled it is good to give it a few days to make sure. In the great scheme of things it is better not to rush. Frankly my ammo never looked zero until I started reading it as described. I actually ran a test on distiller water to find out what 0 looked like.

Smart idea. I think I'm gonna do that tomorrow morning and compare the two colors.

 

[Fishingforfish]

Update:

I tested my tap water for ammonia so I have an idea of whether my tank's water has 0 or somewhere in between 0 and .25ppm ammonia. I still have ammonia somewhere in between (the tube from my tanks water was a little bit darker).

What really changed was the nitrates. I had 5ppm yesterday, and today I have 10ppm. I did a 20% water change, mainly to clean half of the tanks gravel. Otherwise, I think I will be done either tomorrow or the day after!

 

[Coryluv]

That's great. You are so close. After this last water change, I'd expect it to stay at 0. I've see it go that way more than once.

I have 6 fish in a newly set up 10 gal QT that was cycled using seeded material. I had one .25 ammonia reading on the second day, but the water was already Prime treated which lasts for 48 hours so the fish were never in danger. I still did a 50% water change and it has held 0 ever since. That's very typical. I still test daily however.

 

[Fishingforfish]

That's great. You are so close. After this last water change, I'd expect it to stay at 0. I've see it go that way more than once.

I have 6 fish in a newly set up 10 gal QT that was cycled using seeded material. I had one .25 ammonia reading on the second day, but the water was already Prime treated which lasts for 48 hours so the fish were never in danger. I still did a 50% water change and it has held 0 ever since. That's very typical. I still test daily however.

Today's readings are 0, 0, and 10!

How many fish should I add at once? The rest of my stock contains 4 cory and 1 dwarf or honey gourami (can't decide yet). I'm thinking of adding the cory first but I don't know what's going to happen because it's a bigger number.

 

[Coryluv]

Today's readings are 0, 0, and 10!

How many fish should I add at once? The rest of my stock contains 4 cory and 1 dwarf or honey gourami (can't decide yet). I'm thinking of adding the cory first but I don't know what's going to happen because it's a bigger number.

The general rule is to add 3 fish at a time and to watch it. What I'd do is add 2 corys because I want you to at have more than one cory in a tank. After things look good and settle down with the 2 corys, I'd add the other three fish. Once the bacteria is established I find it adjusts upwards rather quickly.

Because I have a 29 gallon well established display tank with plants and my corys are youngsters, when they come out of quarantine I'm going to add them all at once. It is always a judgement call. Whatever you do, just watch it and do water changes as needed whenever you add more fish.

 

[Fishingforfish]

The general rule is to add 3 fish at a time and to watch it. What I'd do is add 2 corys because I want you to at have more than one cory in a tank. After things look good and settle down with the 2 corys, I'd add the other three fish. Once the bacteria is established I find it adjusts upwards rather quickly.

Because I have a 29 gallon well established display tank with plants and my corys are youngsters, when they come out of quarantine I'm going to add them all at once. It is always a judgement call. Whatever you do, just watch it and do water changes as needed whenever you add more fish.

So, add the two cories (I'm most likely going to get false julii's) then wait, then add the two other cories and the gourami? Sounds good. I heard they are poor shippers though, so I hope one doesn't die on the way home :x otherwise, they are soo adorable! I really like their barbels, haha.

 

[Coryluv]

So, add the two cories (I'm most likely going to get false julii's) then wait, then add the two other cories and the gourami? Sounds good. I heard they are poor shippers though, so I hope one doesn't die on the way home :x otherwise, they are soo adorable! I really like their barbels, haha.

Oh, I had jullii's in another life (well another tank that I had to leave when I moved). I love corys so much, but then again i love all my fish so much!

How are you getting the fish? If they are being shipped and in bags, you have no choice but to add them all at once and watch your parameters.

Anyway, like is said, once you have the bacteria going it usually adjusts upwards pretty easily. Just don't overfeed and do partial water changes as needed.