My tank cycled?

[Kuli_Loach]

I got brave and put about 2 new fish in my tank yesterday. Went and checked it a little bit ago and my ammonia is still 0. I have a lot of live plants and a large filter. So is my tank cycled? My Nitrate was also low, my mom checked it and mumbled something but she said it was like low. It has been running for a week with feeder guppies and stress coat and stress zyme in it.

[gm72]

Stress Zyme, most of us will agree, is snake oil. Worthless product. Stress coat however, good product.

Remind us what size tank this is? How many feeder guppies were in there? What is the filter you have?

[Kuli_Loach]

55 gallon tank, about a dozen feeder guppies, Penguin 350 biowheel.

[gm72]

That Penguin, although a nice filter, is not that large for a 55. Most of the time the manufacturers rate their filters for a certain tank size while in practice they are good for maybe 3/4 that. Most of us you will find cut the "rating" in half and filter accordingly. Not criticizing your choice, just taking the opportunity to educate. That being said, those biowheels can harbor a large amount of beneficial bacteria.

You need to know the exact parameters for your tank so you can better understand the entire cycling process. "Low" isn't a very good measure, it will be helpful for you and for us if you are able to post actual numbers. Can you check the parameters again and give us a solid reading?

[Kuli_Loach]

I use the liquid test. I don't wanna dig out the money to do a electronic test so it will take a minute, I will do my best with my liquid test.

[gm72]

Liquid test kits are awesome. Far more accurate than the strips. You don't need an electronic kit.

[Kuli_Loach]

ammonia-0
Nitratel-0
Nitrite-.25
pH-7.8

Found were my mom wrote them down!!!!

[zackish]

I use the liquid test. I don't wanna dig out the money to do a electronic test so it will take a minute, I will do my best with my liquid test.

Liquid tests are very accurate and are good to use. When your tank is fully cycled you will have 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 20+ nitrates. I would say if it has only been running one week and you just added fish and you have had no source of ammonia before this your tank hasn't even started yet. I am sorry to be there bearer of bad news but adding those fish might have just started it. In a tank such as a 55 gal you might want to add a few more fish. Just make sure you feed them only like every other day and very little.

[Kuli_Loach]

hmm, guess I am reading this crap wrong, I don't think my mom done it right, I will re-due my tests tommorow. I know my ammonia is 0 though.

[gm72]

Zackish, remember that this is a planted tank, so nitrAtes won't read that high.

[Kuli_Loach]

Well, my LFS who has helped me threw everything and I have even tested them with stuff. They said to add about 2 fish a week and forget cycling it. They said it will get your bacteria growing that was to and you won't loose fish. Man I have heard so many different things that I don't know what to do.

[gm72]

Adding 2 new fish every week is an exceedingly bad idea, very stressful for the fish. Good luck with all of that. Cycling a tank is critical. Fishless cycling is the way most experienced aquarists cycle.

Here's the key: research. Research everything first. Do not ever listen to one person's opinion but rather believe the consensus.

[Kuli_Loach]

My fish act better than they did in my cycled tanks. I don't know why but they swim around more and they eat better. They like to go threw all of my obstacles and stuff, really enjoying themselves.

[zackish]

Adding 2 new fish every week is an exceedingly bad idea, very stressful for the fish. Good luck with all of that. Cycling a tank is critical. Fishless cycling is the way most experienced aquarists cycle.

Here's the key: research. Research everything first. Do not ever listen to one person's opinion but rather believe the consensus.


GM is right, also, a lot of peoples comments and recommendations to anyone are based on personal experiences.