Help with tank cycle!

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tben786

Small Fish
#1
Dec 27, 2011
48
0
6
#1
Hi everyone, a week from today I got a new 20g tank. I have been cycling it fishless. All of the levels look good and now I'm wondering if I could go ahead and put two fish in it for about a week then add some more. Should I do this?
 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#4
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#4
Those readings would indicate a completed cycle, but HIGHLY unlikely that it happened in 1 week. How did you test the water? How specifically did you do the fishless cycle?

I would suggest getting the water tested at a reputable fish store to make sure.
 

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tben786

Small Fish
#5
Dec 27, 2011
48
0
6
#5
I used some of my water out of my other 20g and i took my filter cartridge from it and put it in the water for a minute. It does seem unbelievable, but I did everything it said to hurry up the process. I also use test kits for these things.
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#10
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#10
I have only been at it since 1978 and learn new stuff all the time. Matter of fact I just wiped out some Saltwater stuff due to being complacent in my water testing, I just murdered two fish and am on the way to doing the same to a coral well. Makes me ill that I could let this happen!!!!!!!!!!
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#12
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#12
Yeah, I got complacent in my water testing, this SW tank had been spot on for over two years. Always about 8.1 to 8.3pH. This tank has a ton of buffering so I thought it was impossible for the pH to dive. So for two weeks I didn't test pH. Well some how I must have messed up in my dosing calculation and the pH dropped to 7.3pH-ish. I still feel ill.
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#17
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#17
There are numbers under or next to the colors. I have never used the strips - people say they aren't as accurate. I have used strips for testing things in the medical field and I know how carefully they need to be handled - any moisture can ruin them and it is easy to drop a few out of the container and contaminate them. Also if you do the math, in the end I am sure the liquid is much cheaper. OC also recommends an ammonia alert disc you can get for your tank which I think would be a really good deal. Just remember that won't solve all of your problems.
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#19
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#19
Yes, the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are your most important. The API liquid test kit is probably the best way to go - it also includes pH testing, but that is not as important in your case (or mine). The cheapest I have seen the kit is $23 I believe. Petco has it on-line cheaper than in the store, but you need to pay shipping unless there are some other things you need - they have deals on shipping. It comes out of CA very quickly. There may be other places also. The problem I found with buying the chemicals piece by piece is it costs a lot more. I am going to guess if you buy all three separately they will cost between $25 and $30, but you can check.
 

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