Hello all , First off I have been a lurker to this great forum for a little while. Its a great forum and I really wanted to give thanks for all the info i have found during my research on starting in this hobby.
I have had a tank in cycle for a couple of months now , Have been getting some great advice posting on another forum and reading alot of great info on here so I decided to join.
I am at the end of my cycle I believe , I have been over my nitrite spike for a few weeks and showing a nice orange color on my api test for Nitrates. Been stable at this level for over a week and if I understand this right , i am now cycled.
Read alot on conflicting info on whether or not i should do one big water change to help the nitrate levels to come down from the 20(orange color) it is now to a safe level for adding a CUC and/or a couple fish.
my other problem/question is that i was told not to keep filter media in filter during the end cycle because of the nitrite spike and high nitrate during the end of cycle process. Do i add my filter media before i do my big water change so i collect some the bacteria filtration on the media or should I do the water change and add the media after and let it circulate to collect some bacteria filtration with the new water levels
I really appreciate your time in reading this and I really look forward to being a part of this forum.
I have had a tank in cycle for a couple of months now , Have been getting some great advice posting on another forum and reading alot of great info on here so I decided to join.
I am at the end of my cycle I believe , I have been over my nitrite spike for a few weeks and showing a nice orange color on my api test for Nitrates. Been stable at this level for over a week and if I understand this right , i am now cycled.
Read alot on conflicting info on whether or not i should do one big water change to help the nitrate levels to come down from the 20(orange color) it is now to a safe level for adding a CUC and/or a couple fish.
my other problem/question is that i was told not to keep filter media in filter during the end cycle because of the nitrite spike and high nitrate during the end of cycle process. Do i add my filter media before i do my big water change so i collect some the bacteria filtration on the media or should I do the water change and add the media after and let it circulate to collect some bacteria filtration with the new water levels
I really appreciate your time in reading this and I really look forward to being a part of this forum.