Help? Cycled too fast?

[ZachariahBeanz]

Hi, I’ve recently started to cycle my tank with Fritz Turbo Start 900, and Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride. My tank is 20 gallons, and I’m pretty sure I dosed correctly. On the first day, I poured in a 1oz of the Fritz, and enough of the ammonium chloride (80 drops). On the second day I tested, and dosed 64 drops of the ammonium chloride. I just tested today (3rd day) and ammonia is testing 0.25-0ppm, and nitrites are at 0.

I know API isn’t the best, but I think it should still be detecting some ammonia or nitrite? Is my cycle done? Should I dose some more ammonium chloride?
PS.. I tested twice and the results were the same both times

 

[Jekyl]

Nitrate reading?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Do you have live rock in the tank? Three days is super short, and you Dosed way too much ammonia for it to be down to near zero already.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Do you have live rock in the tank?

No, I have dry rock, but I do have live sand

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

No, I have dry rock, but I do have live sand

Are you sure you are testing correctly? Are you waiting the proper amount of time before reading it?

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Nitrate reading?

Nitrates seem to be around 10ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you ever tested a high level and now only test 0.25 to 0.5 ppm with api, it is cycled and I’d move on.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Are you sure you are testing correctly? Are you waiting the proper amount of time before reading it?

Yeah, I waited 5 minutes after testing both times, and then read it

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Nitrates seem to be around 10ppm

You are doing something wrong. With the amount of ammonia you Dosed, you should have muchhhh more. Unless you have done large water changes.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Your tank has cycled. It can happen that quickly in a small tank for sure. Just go slowly when adding livestock and you’ll be okay.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

You are doing something wrong. With the amount of ammonia you Dosed, you should have muchhhh more. Unless you have done large water changes.

Really? I did the recommended amount of drops both times?

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

Your tank has cycled. It can happen that quickly in a small tank for sure. Just go slowly when adding livestock and you’ll be okay.

I only wanted to add 2 Darwin Clownfish for my total stocking (plus CUC.) I just to make sure, can I add a pair? Or should I introduce one?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Really? I did the recommended amount of drops both times?

Yes, but the ammonia turns into ammonia-nitrites-nitrates. Each conversion adds ppm if that makes sense. You will end up with alot more nitrates then ammonia in the tank. Nitrates don't go away unless there is tons of algae and or macroalgae, or you do large water changes. 10ppm is far to little.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

If you ever tested a high level and now only test 0.25 to 0.5 ppm with api, it is cycled and I’d move on.

Should I add fish now?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Yes, but the ammonia turns into ammonia-nitrites-nitrates. Each conversion adds ppm if that makes sense. You will end up with alot more nitrates then ammonia in the tank. Nitrates don't go away unless there is tons of algae and or macroalgae, or you do large water changes. 10ppm is far to little.

I only wanted to add 2 Darwin Clownfish for my total stocking (plus CUC.) I just to make sure, can I add a pair? Or should I introduce one?

I think a pair of clowns should be fine. Just monitor for first couple of weeks since it cycled so quickly but all should be well.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I think a pair of clowns should be fine. Just monitor for first couple of weeks since it cycled so quickly but all should be well.

I agree. I am just stumped how there is barely any nitrates. OP, I assume you are doing the test wrong. The API nitrate test is very tedious with lots of shaking and waiting.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

I agree. I am just stumped how there is barely any nitrates. OP, I assume you are doing the test wrong. The API nitrate test is very tedious with lots of shaking and waiting.

I don’t know either. I just did what the instructions said. I added ten drops of the first bottle, then shook the second bottle vigorously for 30 seconds, then added ten drops to the tube. I shook the tube for a minute. And then I waited five minutes

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Should I add fish now?

You didn’t answer the question about whether you ever detected a high level of ammonia.

 

[ZachariahBeanz]

You didn’t answer the question about whether you ever detected a high level of ammonia.

Oh, sorry. I got around 2ppm 3 days ago

 

[crazyfishmom]

Oh, sorry. I got around 2ppm yesterday

If you got around 2 ppm of ammonia yesterday your tank is still cycling.