Cycling process

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Hentie

Hentie

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Got the prime advice from my LFS.

Really confused now.

Can I start the cycling process again? Buy new starter kit?

Thanks for replies
 

Naekuh

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Yea but there is no need.

Its been a month so im guessing your probably already almost 50->80% in your cycle.

Test Nitrite and Nitrate....

Cycle goes from Ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate.

Traditionally once u see Nitrate, its over, but some like to test cycle before going full live.
So what you do is wait for Ammonia and Nitrite to bottom to 0 or as close to 0 as possible, and then reintroduce ammonia at 2ppm.

If your tank can convert the Ammonia to nitrate in 24 hours, your done with cycle.

You then do a water change of 40% to flush the excess nitrate you collected while you were cycling.
Then turn on your skimmer + other mechanical filtration like filter floss, or sponge filter, and then you can start adding fish.

Do it slowly tho, or you will undergo a second cycle.


So stop dosing prime.
Test Nitrate - have about 15-20ppm?
Test Ammonia - should be 0
Test Nitrite - should be also almost 0... if you have high nitrite like 4ppm, then your on the nitrite part of the cycle, and its not complete yet.

Remember its for every 1 Ammonia ~> 2.6 Nitrite ~> 3.6 Nitrate.

Ultimately your left with a stock pile of nitrate.
 
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Thanks, just saw one thing in your post now.

My skimmer has been on since day 1. Should I have left it off for cycle?
 

Naekuh

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Thanks, just saw one thing in your post now.

My skimmer has been on since day 1. Should I have left it off for cycle?

Yep... because a skimmer skims excess organics before it gets broken down to nitrates...

You can leave the cup off, skimmer on tho, as it will oxygenate your water, which is a good thing for cycle.
 

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