Cycling a 20 gallon tank.

B

Brd8909

New member
Hi everyone I am somewhat new to the hobby but not really. I had a 125 gallon tank up and running about 6 years ago and took it down because I moved. Now I am wanting to get back into things and have started up a 20 gallon. As long as things go well with this tank I'm gonna start up a 180 gallon. Well just kinda wanted to let everyone know where I'm at. Anyways I have had this 20 gallon tank going for 2 weeks and have been adding stability to the tank from day one. I finally got my test kit in a week after I started the tank. I have been testing about every other day. My question is did I miss the ammonia spike. It's been only showing .25. Nitrites are 0, and nitrates are 5 and 10ppm. When am I got to add a fish to the tank. Thanks
 
If you didn't do anything to get the ammonia started, I'd say no.
You can either go out and buy pure ammonia or as a lot of other people do use a raw shrimp in your tank for a few days to get the amonia levels up and kick off that cycle.

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afroshacks said:
If you didn't do anything to get the ammonia started, I'd say no.
You can either go out and buy pure ammonia or as a lot of other people do use a raw shrimp in your tank for a few days to get the amonia levels up and kick off that cycle.

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Click to expand...
Honestly first question should be what do you have in your tank?
Live rock, dead rock, sand, etc...
It is possible if you started with live rock you could've missed the ammonia spike, even possible to miss the nitrite spike, but in the end you'll see the nitrates as there's no where for them to go after the cycle finishes.
Except of course the diatom bloom...

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afroshacks said:
Honestly first question should be what do you have in your tank?
Live rock, dead rock, sand, etc...
It is possible if you started with live rock you could've missed the ammonia spike, even possible to miss the nitrite spike, but in the end you'll see the nitrates as there's no where for them to go after the cycle finishes.
Except of course the diatom bloom...

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I have live sand and dry rock. I have been adding a little bit of fish food every day.
 
Yep...live rock or dry rock?... When dumping in bacterial products its totally possible that the ammonia spike is over and done and that the tank is just finishing its cycle...
 
mcgyvr said:
Yep...live rock or dry rock?... When dumping in bacterial products its totally possible that the ammonia spike is over and done and that the tank is just finishing its cycle...
Click to expand...

Yeah that's what I'm trying to decide if I just missed the cycle. Since there is hardly any ammonia and just showing nitrates.
 
Yes you can add a uncooked shrimp or pure ammonia. If Ammonia is 0; Nitrites (No2) 0; add slowly maybe some snails; cleanup crew...
 
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