Cycling issues on my 15g Tank

MelbReefer · May 9, 2026

Hi all! Newbie here and needed help on cycling my tank.

I cycled with Dr Tims One and Only and Ammonia drops with Dry rock and sand. Im also using and API Test kit.
I have added my first 2 clowns feeding it once a day, on the 4th week after testing Ammonia 0 (Wasnt able to test for Nitrite and Nitrate). I tested again on the 5th week and came back with really high Ammonia - 1 ppm, Nitrite - 2 ppm and Nitrate - 5 ppm. Did a 50% water change the next day and got Ammonia - 0.25 ppm, nitrite - 0.25, nitrate - 0 after 24 hours of water change. Im now on my 6th week of cycling my tank and tested Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate. Did I just crash my tank or my cycling has stalled? However my clownfish seem to be thriving.

Thanks in Advance!

Mr. Mojo Rising · May 9, 2026

How soon did you add the clowns after you added the fritz and ammonia? So the clowns have been in your tank now for 4 weeks? Can we see a tank pic?

API is notorius for showing .25 for ammonia and nitrite, I would disregard it completely and treat it like zero. It should not take 6 weeks to cycle a tank, so teh tank should be cycled by now. Once the tank is cycled, no need to ever test ammonia or nitrite again.

MelbReefer · May 9, 2026

Mr. Mojo Rising said:
How soon did you add the clowns after you added the fritz and ammonia? So the clowns have been in your tank now for 4 weeks? Can we see a tank pic?

API is notorius for showing .25 for ammonia and nitrite, I would disregard it completely and treat it like zero. It should not take 6 weeks to cycle a tank, so teh tank should be cycled by now. Once the tank is cycled, no need to ever test ammonia or nitrite again.

Thanks for the advise!
I added the clowns 2 weeks ago. Im just baffled that im getting zero on my nitrates for a week now after doing a 50% WC. Does this mean I can start adding 1 more fish to the tank?