Is my cycle borked?

[KrisReef]

I don't know what is going on. I started cycling last Wednesday. Yesterday, I added ammonium chloride to get it back up to 1.5 because it had fallen to .25. Today i tested it and it's back down to .25. But it's only been 6 days. And my nitrates maxed out my hanna at a blinking 75

That probably made no sense.

I love your thread title. Your Cycle is Borked by your test kits results, the bacteria are present and able to eat ammonia quickly. Do a water change and add fish if you like.

 

[cba191]

I love your thread title. Your Cycle is Borked by your test kits results, the bacteria are present and able to eat ammonia quickly. Do a water change and add fish if you like.

I have hanna for nitrates, and salifert for ammonia. The nitrites are API and that test is bad, imo.

 

[KrisReef]

I have hanna for nitrates, and salifert for ammonia. The nitrites are API and that test is bad, imo.

Yup, Hanna and Salifert are working fine, maybe even API but those are difficult to detect when they are throwing shade.

Randy was trying to explain that nitrite and nitrate tests we use struggle to give proper readings during the cycle until nitrite levels are very low. Cycling tanks often have nitrite levels that confound results for nitrate tests, and vice verse.

But your tank is eatting ammonia, the toxic and critical compound in cycling marine tanks. It is finished.

 

[Fish Fan]

It does appear like your tank is cycled, or very, very close to being finished. You're likely fine to start to slowly add some hardy livestock, but you could test the system again by adding ammonia back to 1.5 -2.0 ppm, and if that's back to 0.25 ppm or less by tomorrow, I'd say you're good.

 

[cba191]

would it be bad to put in a bit more ammonium chloride to make sure? I can't get fish until the weekend. So I was thinking about a 20% water change and more ammonia to see what it reads tomorrow.

 

[Fish Fan]

would it be bad to put in a bit more ammonium chloride to make sure? I can't get fish until the weekend. So I was thinking about a 20% water change and more ammonia to see what it reads tomorrow.

I don't think that would be a bad plan.

 

[cba191]

i put the last of my ammonium chloride in yesterday and it was at 1.5. 12 hours later it's .5
The tank went through a 2oz bottle in a week.

 

[cba191]

Later in the afternoon and it's at zero.

 

[Fish Fan]

That's a good thing!

 

[cba191]

That's a good thing!

I'd add more, but I'm all out of ammonia. The bottle said it would cycle 100 gallons.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Why would you add more?

 

[cba191]

Why would you add more?

Idk. It's only been a week and i feel there should be more to the cycle.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Idk. It's only been a week and i feel there should be more to the cycle.

You have dumped ammonia in 5 times and each time it goes away. What more do you want?

 

[cba191]

I know, it just feels like i must have missed something.

 

[goosemans]

I don’t mean this with any disrespect but relax man, you’re over thinking this. You added ammonia and it went to zero. Doesn’t matter how long it took, your tank is cycled and ready for fish.

 

[cba191]

I don’t mean this with any disrespect but relax man, you’re over thinking this. You added ammonia and it went to zero. Doesn’t matter how long it took, your tank is cycled and ready for fish.

Thanks. I guess ill be looking at fish this weekend.

 

[goosemans]

I don’t mean this with any disrespect but relax man, you’re over thinking this. You added ammonia and it went to zero. Doesn’t matter how long it took, your tank is cycled and ready for fish.

Thanks. I guess ill be looking at fish this weekend.

Fantastic, what fish you plan on getting?

 

[fish_collector]

Oh you’re borked for sure. I don’t know what that means but I’m certain you’ve accomplished maximum borkage.

Why is the “cycle” thing supposed to be difficult? And who is selling nitrite test kits for salt water? And IMO ammonia test kits too for that matter. It just causes unnecessary confusion.

 

[cba191]

I don’t mean this with any disrespect but relax man, you’re over thinking this. You added ammonia and it went to zero. Doesn’t matter how long it took, your tank is cycled and ready for fish.

Thanks. I guess ill be looking at fish this weekend.

Fantastic, what fish you plan on getting?

I'm boring. Probably a couple clowns. My lfs said not to get clowns because they'll claim ownership of the whole tank. But most of the other things im looking at want a more established tank.

 

[cba191]

Oh you’re borked for sure. I don’t know what that means but I’m certain you’ve accomplished maximum borkage.

Why is the “cycle” thing supposed to be difficult? And who is selling nitrite test kits for salt water? And IMO ammonia test kits too for that matter. It just causes unnecessary confusion.

There ya go