How do i know if my tank is cycled?

[Quin]

I can dig through my posts to find the exact date I added it, but I dosed my 10 gallon betta tank with tetra safestart plus with the addition of smaller doses of regular safestart directly to the filter. I am doing a fish in cycle and I'm testing using test strips. My ammonia is between 0 and .25, closer to 0. Nitrates are at 0. Nitrites are between 0 and 20. My fish Hank appears happy and healthy. How do I know when cycling has finished? I'd like to know when the bacteria has established and when I can return to regularly scheduled water changes

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Your tank's cycled! The ammonia reading can be funny sometimes. Test strips aren't the best TBH. Get the API master test kit - you wont regret it!

 

[Quin]

Your tank's cycled! The ammonia reading can be funny sometimes. Test strips aren't the best TBH. Get the API master test kit - you wont regret it!

Thanks for the input! That test kit has been widely recommended and it's definitely on my to-get list once quarantine lets up.

I'm happy to hear my tank is all done! I'd hoped it wouldn't take a month lol. I'll keep monitoring the levels and if no spikes have occurred I'll do a 50% water change next Sunday!

 

[FishGuest5123]

Your tank's cycled! The ammonia reading can be funny sometimes. Test strips aren't the best TBH. Get the API master test kit - you wont regret it!

No, not cycled yet. Ammonia goes up and as it starts dropping, Your nitrites will have to go up and then down to 0. Then your nitrates will begin to grow. Your tank is cycled when you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and nitrates are registering. Then just do a water change to get nitrates down below 10ppm and you’ll be ready to go. Poor Hank has been through enough without having to go through a fish in cycle too.

 

[Colin_T]

Your tank is cycled when the ammonia goes up and comes down. And then the nitrite goes up and comes down. And then the nitrates start to go up while the ammonia and nitrite remain on 0ppm.

It generally takes around 4-6 weeks to cycle a tank, but can be quicker if you add liquid filter bacterial supplements.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

No, not cycled yet. Ammonia goes up and as it starts dropping, Your nitrites will have to go up and then down to 0. Then your nitrates will begin to grow. Your tank is cycled when you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and nitrates are registering. Then just do a water change to get nitrates down below 10ppm and you’ll be ready to go. Poor Hank has been through enough without having to go through a fish in cycle too.

Ah, yes. My bad. Im Used to the common order A, ni, na.. My bad. I'm totally on auto pilot today. lol My bad- sorry

 

[Naughts]

Ah, yes. My bad. Im Used to the common order A, ni, na.. My bad. I'm totally on auto pilot today. lol My bad- sorry

I wonder if @Quin got the nitrite/nitrates muddled? Nitrite at 20 would be a very different scenario!

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

I wonder if @Quin got the nitrite/nitrates muddled? Nitrite at 20 would be a very different scenario!

That could be. Good though.

 

[Quin]

I wonder if @Quin got the nitrite/nitrates muddled? Nitrite at 20 would be a very different scenario!

Oops! Yes I did. My nitrites are at 0 while my nitrates are between 0 and 20, not the other way around. Does this change anything?

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Oops! Yes I did. My nitrites are at 0 while my nitrates are between 0 and 20, not the other way around. Does this change anything?

Then you ARE cycled!

 

[Quin]

Then you ARE cycled!

Cool! I'm gonna keep monitoring my ammonia to see whether or not I can tell it's definitely at 0. I do wish I had that test kit as it might make it easier to tell

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Cool! I'm gonna keep monitoring my ammonia to see whether or not I can tell it's definitely at 0. I do wish I had that test kit as it might make it easier to tell

Ok, good plan