Cycling questions

[megi-lin]

So I am not a newbie to cycling. I am recycling my tank right now after a full empty/clean due to lack of care.

Dec 31,2015 I emptied and cleaned my whole tank, moved it to a new room and started all over. I stupidly got rid of my bb goop when I cleaned the filters. Lesson learned. So I have finished cycling ammonia and nitrites.

My problem and question is this: I had no nitrates during nitrite decrease. I tested every day. Now I still do not have any nitrates and my nitrites have been gone about 7-9 days. Could my strips have just missed them during cycle or could they have actually just cycled fast? Or am I just bound to not have any?

This is really confusing me because I have never heard of NOT having nitrates at any stage of cycling except after a full cycle.

Any knowledge and/or advice? Thanks!

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[Shadow Bass]

you're cycle is over when the nitrite drop to 0. while you have 0 nitrates you want to keep it that way, IMHO you're done.

 

[megi-lin]

you're cycle is over when the nitrite drop to 0. while you have 0 nitrates you want to keep it that way, IMHO you're done.

Awesome!

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[Nightshark]

I will add to get a better test kit too. The strips are not very reliable. The master test kit from API is good.

 

[megi-lin]

I will add to get a better test kit too. The strips are not very reliable. The master test kit from API is good.

I am going to get one in a few months. I am on disability and have spent a ton of money on fish supplies last month after bills and now I have this month just enough to have gotten some new fish and will get a siphon and new bubble wall. More luck next month.


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[Mebbid]

Unless you have a very heavily planted tank your niteates should never be 0. I would take a same of water into the lfs for testing just to be sure.

 

[megi-lin]

Unless you have a very heavily planted tank your niteates should never be 0. I would take a same of water into the lfs for testing just to be sure.

They got the same reading.

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