Is my tank finished cycling?

[elc02]

I've been cycling this tank since August, it took a while for my nitrites to show up and go down. I'm at the point where I add 2 ppm of ammonia and 24hr later it's at 0.25, nitrite is 0 and I haven't had any traces of nitrates throughout the entire cycle. There is nothing in the tank right now other than live rock and sand. I use the API test kit and I've read that an ammonia reading of 0.25 ppm could just be a mistake? It's been stuck at 0.25 for over a month now

 

[mmorrison55]

They say API is not the best kit to use. But if you have had live rock in there for going on 3 months, you should be cycled.

What did you add to start your cycle?

 

[Euphyllia97]

It is strange that you have never seen nitrates… what water changes have you been doing? Did you test nitrates with other test kits?

0,25 ammonia could indeed just be a testing error.

If you have been adding ammonia and you see it dropping everytime you dose it, in combination with live rock and sand. It would be almost impossible for the tank not to be cycled if it has been running since august. So yes I think your tank is ready

 

[twentyleagues]

I've been cycling this tank since August, it took a while for my nitrites to show up and go down. I'm at the point where I add 2 ppm of ammonia and 24hr later it's at 0.25, nitrite is 0 and I haven't had any traces of nitrates throughout the entire cycle. There is nothing in the tank right now other than live rock and sand. I use the API test kit and I've read that an ammonia reading of 0.25 ppm could just be a mistake? It's been stuck at 0.25 for over a month now

True that api tests can show 0.25ppm ammonia its more of a mistake of our eyes really but yes that is pretty normal and should be fine based on length of time. Did you add bacteria? My concern is the lack of nitrate. There should be nitrate if you dont have something to remove it either water change or algae/corals. The api nitrate test is a little hard to get right. You really have to shake the 2nd bottle of solution a lot vigorously for at least a minute, its very thick and does separate in the bottle. Unfortunately now that you have used some and gotten 0 on the test the ratio in the bottle if it was not shaken enough is going to cause questionable results. I would maybe get a second opinion from an lfs test if possible, or maybe buy a Salifert nitrate test kit.

 

[twentyleagues]

Oh I missed the live rock and sand part. Was it actual live rock from the ocean or wet live rock from the lfs? If it was dry its not live rock. Depending on how long the rock was wet at the store it could be live or not as well. A lot of things are called "live rock" its pretty "confusing". If it was direct from the ocean you most likely have nothing to worry about and really could have started adding fish/corals when the tank water cleared up like in a day or two from start up. Do you have any pics of the tank? may help to understand where, what and how.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

API test will often show .25 ammonia, you'll wait forever to see zero. .25 is acceptable as zero, and I like to see at least 15-20 nitrates. So if you are seeing zero nitrate IMO the tank is not cycled. Nitrite doesn't matter at all, only need to measure the ammonia and nitrate. Did you add any bacteria or just the ammonia?