Is my Tank Cycled?

[outdoorzgirl]

My tank has been set up around 5 weeks now. 2 days ago my nitrate levels were off the charts. This evening the nitrates levels finally tested 0...Yeaaaaa! But my ammonia tested b/t .5 to 1.0 on the ammonia chart. Shouldn't my ammonia level also be a 0? I have a renegade filter plus a penguin 330 bio wheel . One on each side of my 55 gallon, so I don't think that ammonia would be caused by not enough filtration.What could be causing this? And if my tank is now cycled, when can I start vacuming my gravel, etc . without worry of disturbing my good bacterial colony? Can I start right away?

 

[semper fi]

first of all are you doin a fishless cycle or a cycle with fish? as soon as the ammonia levels peak you should start doing the water changes in a fishless cycle. in a cycle with fish, the water changes should be started a week after the tank has been set up. ammonia is created from fish waste and excess food. ammonia is then converted into nitrites and then from nitrites to nitrates. you will not remove the bacteria from your tank since it is not only in the gravel, but the water, filter, powerheads and any other equipment also on the decor. if you were to do a large water change, say of about 75% or better you stand the possibility of crashing the tank. you have removed enough of the bacteria that it cannot keep up with the bio load. you can vaccuum your gravel when there is waste present on the gravel. the amount of a water change that you are going to do just vaccuuming the gravel will not crash your tank. probably only about 10 - 20% water change withthe vaccuuming.

you want to keep the ammonia levels at zero once they zero out. since you are not doing water changes that is probably why you still have ammonia in your tank. you can have ammonia and nitrate at the same time. there will always be fresh waste and older waste so to speak. you will waqnt to do a water change as soon as possible to try to remove the ammonia.

when your tank is cycled, the tank will get a bacteria bloom. the water will turn cloudy for a few days. this is usually an indicator that the tank is cycled.

hth

maggie

 

[outdoorzgirl]

Maggie
Thank you for your helpful information. I had been cycling my tank with fish. A few weeks ago my ammonia levels peaked and I did a 20 percent water change almost daily to dilute the ammonia levels so I could lessen the stress on my fish ..even if by just alittle. My ammonia levels fell..while my nitrite levels soared. A few days ago my ammonia was at a 0, but I guess since I have not done a water change in about a week..)I was afraid I was going to slow down the rest of my cycling process) , I must have accumulated enough fish waste to cause a spike in my ammonia level. I will vacumn my gravel tomorrow and do about a 20 percent water change. I feel better knowing I can do that without harming my tank

 

[semper fi]

no problem. if you have any more questions feel free to post them. what kind of fish are you using for your cycle?

maggie

 

[outdoorzgirl]

I used blind cave fish (type of tetra), a few pristellas, and a couple of guppies for 55 gallons. I know I made a mistake by the guppies because during the peak in my ammonia, one of my guppies got ammonia burn and started losing his finnage. Luckily all my fish are alive and seem to being doing okay. Next time I set up another tank, I will not use fish. I am going to go the fishless cycling route.

 

[semper fi]

once you have an established tank, the others are much easier. you can use the water from a water change to jumpstart the tank. also used equipment and gravel will help to jumpstart it. just make sure that you do not crash the first one. much easier the more tanks that you have. you could have instant tanks when you get up to 135 like cm (cichlidmaster) has! heehee

maggie