finished cycling?

bugbdon · 03/07/2008, 12:14 AM

hello everyone,
i think my tank is done cycling.... finally!
it is my understanding that nitrate is the end product of the nitrogen cycle. (unless you have an anaerobic environment) so when your nitrites are 0 you should do a 50% water change and you're good to go? am i right?
currently my nitrites are 0 and my nitrates are 20 ppm
can i put something in there now?

thanks

oh, i'd like to put 2 clowns in first OR do i need the clean up crew in there first? different people at my lfs say different things

Lotus99 · 03/07/2008, 12:17 AM

It sounds like your finished, assuming the ammonia reading is zero. A 50% water change is a little large, but you could do it.

Add the cleanup crew first, then add the fish in a few weeks.

afish70 · 03/07/2008, 12:17 AM

i would put in the crew 1st, depending on what you are using as a CUC

demonsp · 03/07/2008, 12:17 AM

50% to much? Whats the ammonia reading?How long has it been cycling?

Blown 346 · 03/07/2008, 12:18 AM

Whats the ammonia level? I wouldnt do that large of a water change. I would do 20% to get the nitrates down a bit, after a week if the nitrite and ammonia are zero go ahead and add slowly.

Queenreef · 03/07/2008, 12:33 AM

I would have to agree! Only do a 20% water change, 50% is too much.

littlefish72 · 03/07/2008, 12:41 AM

If you do the 50% change wait a day or two before you add fish or the clean up crew just to allow the water to mix and heat up..........yes nitrate is end product of the nitrogen cycle......you can put the clean up crew or the clownfish or both now since it has cycled

Blown 346 · 03/07/2008, 01:31 AM

I would stick to a 20% waterchange, doing anymore can shock the system and could result in another cycle from die off of the new bacteria. The system isnt balanced and stabile yet, any change liek this can become a problem. Again take it slow, dont add everything at once.

bugbdon · 03/07/2008, 07:49 AM

sounds good to me, it's been cycling for 3 weeks now. i don't know if there is any ammonia, i just assumed that because the nitrites were 0 that the ammonia has been converted. i'm gonna wait a day or two then get something in there. thanks everyone

bugbdon · 03/07/2008, 01:02 PM

ok so i went to the lfs and had my ammonia tested, it read .5....... so i guess i'm not finished, is that possible? they suggested some of marine labs bio-spira. i bought that and the package says to wait 48 hours and i should be good to go. any sugestions?

littlefish72 · 03/10/2008, 02:35 PM

give it a little more time.....it will work itself out

imcosmokramer · 03/10/2008, 03:46 PM

You waited this long, and if you're planning on staying in the hobby for a long time, what's a little more? Just let it fully cycle, get your ammonia at 0.

03/07/2008, 12:14 AM	#1
bugbdon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 329	finished cycling? hello everyone, i think my tank is done cycling.... finally! it is my understanding that nitrate is the end product of the nitrogen cycle. (unless you have an anaerobic environment) so when your nitrites are 0 you should do a 50% water change and you're good to go? am i right? currently my nitrites are 0 and my nitrates are 20 ppm can i put something in there now? thanks oh, i'd like to put 2 clowns in first OR do i need the clean up crew in there first? different people at my lfs say different things

03/07/2008, 12:17 AM	#2
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	It sounds like your finished, assuming the ammonia reading is zero. A 50% water change is a little large, but you could do it. Add the cleanup crew first, then add the fish in a few weeks. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

03/07/2008, 12:41 AM	#7
littlefish72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Coatesville, PA Posts: 389	If you do the 50% change wait a day or two before you add fish or the clean up crew just to allow the water to mix and heat up..........yes nitrate is end product of the nitrogen cycle......you can put the clean up crew or the clownfish or both now since it has cycled __________________ GO CANES!!! GO WOLFPACK!!!!! "There are no stupid questions Eric, just stupid people."-Mr. Garrison If an upside-down catfish dies, does it turn right side up? Current Tank Info: Leaky Clownfish system

03/10/2008, 02:35 PM	#11
littlefish72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Coatesville, PA Posts: 389	give it a little more time.....it will work itself out __________________ GO CANES!!! GO WOLFPACK!!!!! "There are no stupid questions Eric, just stupid people."-Mr. Garrison If an upside-down catfish dies, does it turn right side up? Current Tank Info: Leaky Clownfish system

03/07/2008, 12:17 AM	#3
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	i would put in the crew 1st, depending on what you are using as a CUC

03/07/2008, 12:17 AM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	50% to much? Whats the ammonia reading?How long has it been cycling?

03/07/2008, 12:18 AM	#5
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Whats the ammonia level? I wouldnt do that large of a water change. I would do 20% to get the nitrates down a bit, after a week if the nitrite and ammonia are zero go ahead and add slowly.

03/07/2008, 12:33 AM	#6
Queenreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sunny Colorado Posts: 24	I would have to agree! Only do a 20% water change, 50% is too much.

03/07/2008, 01:31 AM	#8
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I would stick to a 20% waterchange, doing anymore can shock the system and could result in another cycle from die off of the new bacteria. The system isnt balanced and stabile yet, any change liek this can become a problem. Again take it slow, dont add everything at once.

03/07/2008, 07:49 AM	#9
bugbdon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 329	sounds good to me, it's been cycling for 3 weeks now. i don't know if there is any ammonia, i just assumed that because the nitrites were 0 that the ammonia has been converted. i'm gonna wait a day or two then get something in there. thanks everyone

03/07/2008, 01:02 PM	#10
bugbdon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 329	ok so i went to the lfs and had my ammonia tested, it read .5....... so i guess i'm not finished, is that possible? they suggested some of marine labs bio-spira. i bought that and the package says to wait 48 hours and i should be good to go. any sugestions?

03/10/2008, 03:46 PM	#12
imcosmokramer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,709	You waited this long, and if you're planning on staying in the hobby for a long time, what's a little more? Just let it fully cycle, get your ammonia at 0.