Jmurray17
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi everyone,
I have inherited a 4ft (75 G) tank and I think I have been cycling successfully for about 8 weeks.
Heater set at 26 degrees centigrade.
Gravel substrate.
Live rock
2 T5 lights
1200 LPH canister filter 30W with filter media from my established 50 litre tank.
I also inherited a very old test kit and have been using that.
Have been checking ammonia and nitrites daily and dozing amm up to 4ppm with food flakes.
The last week I have had stable readings of
amm =0 ppm
Nitrite =0 ppm
I added a small school of 3 tetras into the big tank 5 days ago.
They don't seem stressed, breathing normal rates, swimming well and feeding as usual.
First question...am I cycled as I have a ghost knife I need to rehome into the new tank but don't want to risk putting him in too early?
Second question....do I need to put the tetras back in my established tank if there is any doubt about my large tank being cycled?
Third question is....as I am using an old test kit (I mean like 5-6 years old) it doesn't test for nitrates? If my ammonia and nitrite readings are within safe parameters am I able to assume nitrates are being produced?
Also I have not done a full water change during my cycle only topping up what has evaporated, have dosed the water with ager each time I have added water.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: stupid question but do I want nitrates or are they supposed to be 0ppm as well??
I have inherited a 4ft (75 G) tank and I think I have been cycling successfully for about 8 weeks.
Heater set at 26 degrees centigrade.
Gravel substrate.
Live rock
2 T5 lights
1200 LPH canister filter 30W with filter media from my established 50 litre tank.
I also inherited a very old test kit and have been using that.
Have been checking ammonia and nitrites daily and dozing amm up to 4ppm with food flakes.
The last week I have had stable readings of
amm =0 ppm
Nitrite =0 ppm
I added a small school of 3 tetras into the big tank 5 days ago.
They don't seem stressed, breathing normal rates, swimming well and feeding as usual.
First question...am I cycled as I have a ghost knife I need to rehome into the new tank but don't want to risk putting him in too early?
Second question....do I need to put the tetras back in my established tank if there is any doubt about my large tank being cycled?
Third question is....as I am using an old test kit (I mean like 5-6 years old) it doesn't test for nitrates? If my ammonia and nitrite readings are within safe parameters am I able to assume nitrates are being produced?
Also I have not done a full water change during my cycle only topping up what has evaporated, have dosed the water with ager each time I have added water.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: stupid question but do I want nitrates or are they supposed to be 0ppm as well??