Is tank cycled

[noahage]

I am very impatient and I have been cycling my tank for about 3 and a half weeks the tank is getting dirty and when I test the water the levels have stayed pretty stable any help?

 

[SammieT]

If it was ME, I'd wait a little longer to play it out

i just waited a good 2 months to let my system cycle, just to play it safe
let it all work out itself and give it time


there is no real right or wrong answer to your question...

 

[Brew12]

I am very impatient and I have been cycling my tank for about 3 and a half weeks the tank is getting dirty and when I test the water the levels have stayed pretty stable any help?

What did you add as an ammonia source to start the cycle? I would expect to see a little nitrate on your samples.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Just a few questions that might be able th help:

Where did you get your rock?
Did you ever see a spike in ammonia or nitrite?

 

[noahage]

What did you add as an ammonia source to start the cycle? I would expect to see a little nitrate on your samples.

My store gave me turbo start and 3 green chromis

 

[noahage]

Just a few questions that might be able th help:

Where did you get your rock?
Did you ever see a spike in ammonia or nitrite?

I got my rock at the fish store and I haven’t really seen a spike but I know that the levels have went down a little I also got my test kit a couple weeks after I got the tank so that might be why I didn’t see a spike

 

[Brew12]

My store gave me turbo start and 3 green chromis

You should be fine. Keep lightly feeding the fish. A tank is never really "cycled" as it is an ongoing process but the turbo start is designed to make an aquarium safe for fish immediately.

 

[brandon429]

I like to call a tank cycled when these two conditions are met: a full water change wont undo or reset things, and #2 system is able to keep initial bioloading alive. an uncycled reef cannot keep things alive.


you're cycled but only as mature as that rock has been underwater, and if its not liferock (painted dry rock needs a couple weeks to activate) you might have been cycled a hundred years ago, thats considered rather mature active substrate. you arent mid-cycle, you're done cycle but awaiting maturity: lots of fanworms, pods, sponges, things that add to surface area over time

nothing you added did your cycle; your coralline live rock showed up cycled and didnt undo.

 

[The_Skrimp]

Turbo could possibly have jump started your cycle. I used the same API tests and had a hard time being able to tell if my tank was cycled to the point where I was over feeding it and just adding more ammonia. One thing I did to see if I actually had nitrates or not was to test both clean RO water and my tank water for nitrates and see if there's a difference in color. Those tests can be pretty tricky to read especially at low levels.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Using the Turbo made it safe for the fish, so Id say you’re cycled. It is a little odd that you are showing any nitrates yet, but those api tests are hard to read.

It also lookS like you are starting to get diatoms on the sand and rock. It’s gonna get a little ugly in there for a little while, but it will clear up. Good luck!

 

[noahage]

Alright thanks for all the help I am going to go by the shop and see what they say cause there the ones giving me the fish thanks for all the tips and pointers

 

[Rickybobby]

One person I respect says a tank is cycled when you see coralline algae start growing

 

[brandon429]

that would be info I would certify in a reef court of law/