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I have had my 29g running, with fish, for two weeks. For the last 7 days my readings have been: Am-.25. Nitrites-0. Nitrates-5. I should add, I put the filter from my 5g on the 29 and some of the plants as well. Is it cycled? Thanks!

"Constant vigilance!"
Mad-Eye Moody

Nope. It won't be cycled until your ammonia and nitrIte read 0. It looks like your ammonia is spiking, your nitrItes will spike next. once they both read 0 it's cycled.

I'd do a water change to bring the Ammonia down some, say 30%.

Good luck, Mike

Doesn't the ammonia spike higher than that? I was under the impression that that wasn't that high. Could be wrong though! I also added Cycle last night. Will that make it go faster?

"Constant vigilance!"
Mad-Eye Moody

a word to the wise - be patient - don't rush the process - ammonia level rises nitrite will rise too - then ammonia will drop to 0 - nitrite will remain high then evenually drop to 0 - I have an established 45 gallon tank and am currently cycling a 55 gallon freshwater - if you rush the process just to add the fish you really want - you'll be giving up this wonderful hobby within a year - good luck - take it slow -

covered-in-bees

Dont rush it, as it will all settle down when it is ready and not before hand. Good luck when you finally get it up and running.

Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 19-Mar-2005 21:13

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The name of the game is PATENCE! It can take sometimes more than a month, as as my boyfriend is now learning with our new 55g. Products like Cycle help control the spikes, and help to get a quicker cycle, but it's still not going to be instant results. My tip for a quicker cycling period is to use multiple cycling agents.

I use Cycle in EVERY water change (even my well-established tanks), and have been using Stess-Zyme in my new tank. If the nitrite spikes get too high for your fishes comfort, you may use a product like Amquel Plus (wich removes ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates), but this may prolong the process.

I have used a product called Bio-Spira in the past, which worked very well along with the Cycle, but it is expensive and hard to come by. I had to order it online, and it cost me $15 for enough for a 30 gal tank. But the nirtite level never jumped above 1.0 ppm.

Belive me, it can be agonizing waiting until the tank is fully cycled, but it is well worth it in the end.

I guess I needed to be more specific. I was confused because I was reading nitrates. I was under the impression that I wouldn't have nitrates until I had nitrites. I thought maybe I had just missed them and was worried that I was reading ammonia.

"Constant vigilance!"
Mad-Eye Moody

I guess I needed to be more specific. I was confused because I was reading nitrates. I was under the impression that I wouldn't have nitrates until I had nitrites. I thought maybe I had just missed them and was worried that I was reading ammonia.

The fact that you have 0 N02 means that your beneficial bacteria is converting it to NO3. But the slight reading of NH3/NH4 indicates that your beneficial bacteria is still unable to fully convert them to NO2 and then to NO3. i.e., your tank is still in the process of cycling.
When you have 0 reading for NH3 and NO2, then your tank is fully cycles.
Rohn

Last edited by rohnds at 27-Mar-2005 03:49