Cycle question

[Aaron88]

So I started the cycle on my 65g on Just 1st this year. I haven’t done a water change. (Should I?) and my reading are;
pH 8.4
Nitrate 0.2
Ammonia 0.4
Nitrate 10ppm
Is this normal? I’m doing the cycle with fish. Should I do a water change? Or do you just let it be?

 

[BeltedCoyote]

So if a tank is truly “cycled” there shouldn’t be any detectable ammonia. What type of test kits are you using?

and a water change probably wouldn’t hurt so long as you test again after the new water is added

 

[Aaron88]

So if a tank is truly “cycled” there shouldn’t be any detectable ammonia. What type of test kits are you using?

and a water change probably wouldn’t hurt so long as you test again after the new water is added

I’m using the Redsea test kits. I know the cycle can take 2 months. But I used about 8oz of the Fritz turbo start 900 1 4oz at the start and the 2nd a week after. I figured that would speed things up some.

 

[Webslinger]

dr. tims and let it be...

 

[Aaron88]

dr. tims and let it be...

The nearest LFS is 100 miles away from me. So that would take awhile to get.

 

[Jen1978]

Are you reading the test kit correctly. If the color on the card is .4, then your ammonia is actually .04
The kit reads both types of ammonia.

 

[Aaron88]

Are you reading the test kit correctly. If the color on the card is .4, then your ammonia is actually .04
The kit reads both types of ammonia.

I posted it the way I read it. And both types of ammonia????

 

[BeltedCoyote]

The nearest LFS is 100 miles away from me. So that would take awhile to get.

BRS and marine depot usually have it in stock. I think I’ve seen it on amazon as well

 

[Jen1978]

I posted it the way I read it. And both types of ammonia????

Flip your card over to the direction side. There is a key on the bottom right corner I believe.

 

[ZiBiReef]

I posted it the way I read it. And both types of ammonia????

I think he means the nitrate test is detecting the ammonia nitrogen

 

[Aaron88]

Flip your card over to the direction side. There is a key on the bottom right corner I believe.

I do see that. I don’t understand that

 

[Jen1978]

I do see that. I don’t understand that

The NH3 is the reading to go by for reading ammonia in our tank. That is the level you want to convert your reading to. I don't know why they do it that way. To me it doesn't make much sense but that is the way it is I guess. Good news is, congrats, your ammonia is almost undetectable again.

On a side note, I made the same mistake and freaked and did a 50% water change in my QT tank thinking my ammonia was .8 and not .08

 

[Aaron88]

The NH3 is the reading to go by for reading ammonia in our tank. That is the level you want to convert your reading to. I don't know why they do it that way. To me it doesn't make much sense but that is the way it is I guess. Good news is, congrats, your ammonia is almost undetectable again.

On a side note, I made the same mistake and freaked and did a 50% water change in my QT tank thinking my ammonia was .8 and not .08

Well that is just odd. Lol. So do I need to do a water change? Or should I just let it be?

 

[Jen1978]

Well that is just odd. Lol. So do I need to do a water change? Or should I just let it be?

I don't see any reason why you couldn't do a small one.

 

[Aaron88]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't do a small one.

Like 10g? I don’t wanna do anything to upset the cycle. I have another tank the cycled in 2 weeks so I’m not use to seeing all this last for so long. And I did my last tank a few years ago so I forget some of the basics.

 

[Jen1978]

Like 10g? I don’t wanna do anything to upset the cycle. I have another tank the cycled in 2 weeks so I’m not use to seeing all this last for so long. And I did my last tank a few years ago so I forget some of the basics.

That should be fine.

 

[Aaron88]

That should be fine.

Well after thinking about it I left the tank alone. I tested everything again today and the ammonia was 0 but my Nitrate 0.2 Nitrate 10ppm did not change. I tested 3 times to verify. It looks like this round of cycle is almost coming to an end?

 

[brandon429]

this cycle is fully complete, no further delay required. youd change water, add new, add life, it lives

 

[Aaron88]

this cycle is fully complete, no further delay required. youd change water, add new, add life, it lives

I just tested my water again today and my ammonia is still at 0 but my Nitrite is still at .2. Why won’t it drop down to 0?

 

[brandon429]

Nitrite used to matter, it no longer does

Wanna be the first entrant in this thread below

How to unstick any seemingly stuck cycle

Updated Cycling Science in Action This is a testless reef tank cycling thread, the only one from any board. If you ever had trouble with reef tank cycling in the past, you won't any longer after working some jobs with us. chances are you are using/about to use a method of reef tank cycling...

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If you change out your water and add life, it lives.