Cycling Question

[Chris H Reef]

Hey All,

I am cycling my 75 gallon aquarium with clownfish (Please don't give me too much hate, I did not know that this was stressful on the fish when I started).

I checked my water today after about a month of cycling and I am reading Ammonia: 0.2 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 5. Using a red sea test kit.

Here's my history over the last month:

Am I just reading the ammonia wrong? Nitrite was 100% 0 but sometimes I have trouble reading the ammonia test.

Am I considered cycled?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hey All,

I am cycling my 75 gallon aquarium with clownfish (Please don't give me too much hate, I did not know that this was stressful on the fish when I started).

I checked my water today after about a month of cycling and I am reading Ammonia: 0.2 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 5. Using a red sea test kit.

Here's my history over the last month:

Am I just reading the ammonia wrong? Nitrite was 100% 0 but sometimes I have trouble reading the ammonia test.

Am I considered cycled?

You are considered to "have enough nitrifying bacteria to manage the current bioload"... the "cycle" is neverending. How much rock or other biomedia is in the tank? If it's a reasonable amount, start slowly adding more fish if you want, understanding that the bacterial colonies will need a little time to catch up to the new bioload. In 75 gallons though, you should be fine - that's a lot of dilution.

 

[mues]

Nitrates = cycled

if any fish was to be used, clowns aren't the worst choice. super hardy

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

*your salinity seems a bit high though

 

[Cell]

Yes. Target salinity should be 1.026 or slightly lower.

 

[Chris H Reef]

You are considered to "have enough nitrifying bacteria to manage the current bioload"... the "cycle" is neverending. How much rock or other biomedia is in the tank? If it's a reasonable amount, start slowly adding more fish if you want, understanding that the bacterial colonies will need a little time to catch up to the new bioload. In 75 gallons though, you should be fine - that's a lot of dilution.

I have about 80lbs of rocks and 25lbs (i think) of sand.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have about 80lbs of rocks and 25lbs (i think) of sand.

Sounds good! Plenty of area for bacteria to live

 

[Chris H Reef]

And yes! I am going to pull some water out and put in fresh rodi to get my salinity down

 

[Chris H Reef]

Follow up question, should I start running my skimmer now? I had it running but not collecting for aeration for the initial cycling

 

[mues]

Follow up question, should I start running my skimmer now? I had it running but not collecting for aeration for the initial cycling

IMO wait until your nutrient levels stay stable... don't want dinos to add to the long list of other annoyances you're bound to run into with a new tank