Fishless cycle, nitrates kicking in

[Zagz]

Ok day 11 of fishless cycle having added ammonia regularily to maintain ammonia levels and kick off the cycle. Now my nitrites are 0 ppm, and my nitrates are at 10 ppm. Should I stop with the ammonia and do a pwc and consider the cycle finished? Or keep adding ammonia for a bit?

 

[ripvanrina]

keep adding ammonia until you get fish otherwise the bacteria will starve

and congrats on the cycle!

 

[Jchillin]

You have to continue dosing and monitoring NH3 until your cycle is completed and you add fish. The fish will then produce their own NH3. You should consider your cycle completed when you have 0's for NH3 and NO2 and >20ppm NO3.