Cycling

[mrskippy317]

Hi , 2 weeks ago I set up a new 280 Litre (75 gallon) fresh water tropical fish tank. I used a chlorine and ammonia remover , and then added a dose of stress zyme ( biological filtration booster) and have added two more doses since , day 7 and day 14. I added 2 baby oscars and 3 baby silver sharks 9 days ago. I have been testing the water daily whilst the fish have been in the tank and the highest ammonia spike I got was 0.6mg/L on day 3 of fish being in the tank. On day 9 of fish being in the tank (today) my readings were ammonia: 0.0 , nitrite: 0.05mg/L and nitrates of 5.0mg/L. PH has been consistent between 6.8 and 7.0 for the whole Time. Would it be possible for the cycle to be complete? Or should i be expecting a larger ammonia/ nitrite spike. Ammonia has been 0.0 for about 3 days and nitrite has been <0.1 mg for 3 days and I can see nitrates slowly increasing. Any advice / thoughts would be appreciated as this is my first aquarium. by the way - silver sharks are being sold once they get a little bigger. Thank you in advance

 

[leggey]

My advice is just make sure you do lots of pwc for the next 2 weeks just incase and you should be fine

 

[mrskippy317]

Why do I need to do water changes when nitrites and nitrates are so low ?

 

[mrskippy317]

Tested levels today again still the same.... Should I be doing water changes 2 weeks into the cycle if ammonia and nitrite are so low (less than 0.05mg/l and nitrates are only at 5mg/l ?

 

[Andrew McFadden]

What test kit are you using? I didn't know any of them tested that low of ppm. I wouldn't worry about it at less it starts to go up so just keep an eye I'm it