New tank first readings...

[King Fisher]

Looking good. Personally, I'd do a 50% water change. Continue dosing ammonia for one more week and make sure you get the same readings at the end of the week.

 

[Dismantled]

Ok I’ll do that tomorrow. There’s a chance it might alter then?

 

[King Fisher]

Your nitrates are a little high at the moment. So cut them in half with a 50% water change. If you are adding an ammonia source every day for a week and you are still showing 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite but your nitrates have increased then you know your tanks cycling.

Just remember, before you add fish, do a few large water changes to bring that nitrate down to around 5 or 10 then add your fish.

 

[Dismantled]

Ok makes sense. Should I test daily, or every 3 days?

 

[King Fisher]

You could let it go all week. Just test at day 7 before your water change. I edited my last post and added a little more about lowering nitrates before adding fish.

 

[King Fisher]

I'm guessing you already know you should be changing 33%-50% of your water weekly after you add fish.

 

[Dismantled]

Yeah, to keep the nitrates down. I’ll hold off from adding any fish for another week to ensure the tank is fully cycling. I’ll test after 7 days, saves wasting the liquid in the test bottles. Thanks King Fisher

 

[King Fisher]

No problem. Keep coming with the updates.

 

[Dismantled]

Should I test the water directly after water change?

 

[Dismantled]

21 days since I set tank up. 50% water change today, and these are the readings. So I’ll test again in 7 days and hopefully the only difference should be the nitrates have spiked?

 

[King Fisher]

That's correct. Nitrates should be higher and zeroed out on ammonia and nitrites. Test on day 7 before your water change.

 

[Dismantled]

Me again lol. So it’s been a week since I last tested and did a 50% water change. Only thing that has increase is the nitrates. Looks like my tank has cycled. I’m looking to do 75% water change next and start stocking with fish.

 

[King Fisher]

Awesome!! Looks like you are at 80ppm on nitrates. I'd do a 75% water change then another 75%. That should put you at around 5ppm before you add fish. Good starting point.

 

[Dismantled]

Done that and just added 3 black fin corys to start. Just need to decided exactly what else I want now.