Cycle question

[Ronron89]

I’ve been cycling my tank for quite some time now and I thought I was completed so I’ve added fish. I had added some Oscar’s mid way before completion so technically I guess it would be considered a fish in cycle using seachem prime and stability. My question, do you think my tank has completed cycle showing 0ppm on everything? A couple of weeks ago it was showing; Ammonia .50ppm, Nitrite between .50ppm and 1ppm, and Nitrate between 10 and 20ppm.. now it’s showing 0ppm on everything. I’ve done 25% water changes weekly as not to disrupt the cycle drastically and kept an eye on the inhabitants and added more once I thought cycle was completed. But now my concern is the nitrates being at zero. To my understanding there was supposed to be nitrates below 30ppm but I’ve been at zero for the past week. Should I be concerned?

 

[Azedenkae]

I’ve been cycling my tank for quite some time now and I thought I was completed so I’ve added fish. I had added some Oscar’s mid way before completion so technically I guess it would be considered a fish in cycle using seachem prime and stability. My question, do you think my tank has completed cycle showing 0ppm on everything? A couple of weeks ago it was showing; Ammonia .50ppm, Nitrite between .50ppm and 1ppm, and Nitrate between 10 and 20ppm.. now it’s showing 0ppm on everything. I’ve done 25% water changes weekly as not to disrupt the cycle drastically and kept an eye on the inhabitants and added more once I thought cycle was completed. But now my concern is the nitrates being at zero. To my understanding there was supposed to be nitrates below 30ppm but I’ve been at zero for the past week. Should I be concerned?

Looks like zero ammonia and nitrite. If you have been feeding your oscar, and have not done a water change in the last two days or so, then yes your aquarium is now cycled for the bioload of your oscar.

Nitrate has no bearing on whether an aquarium is considered 'cycled' or not, especially because you used Stability. It contains non-nitrifiers that evidence suggests is a microorganism that can consume ammonia as a nitrogen source rather than an energy source (don't worry what that means, long story short you don't get nitrate from ammonia consumption as a nitrogen source). Whether this method of ammonia consumption is a good thing is debatable. Ammonia consumption via nitrification imo is certainly the best method, but hey, if ammonia and nitrite can remain at zero, then eh.

Water changes have no negative impact on cycling.

 

[Ronron89]

Looks like zero ammonia and nitrite. If you have been feeding your oscar, and have not done a water change in the last two days or so, then yes your aquarium is now cycled for the bioload of your oscar.

Nitrate has no bearing on whether an aquarium is considered 'cycled' or not, especially because you used Stability. It contains non-nitrifiers that evidence suggests is a microorganism that can consume ammonia as a nitrogen source rather than an energy source (don't worry what that means, long story short you don't get nitrate from ammonia consumption as a nitrogen source). Whether this method of ammonia consumption is a good thing is debatable. Ammonia consumption via nitrification imo is certainly the best method, but hey, if ammonia and nitrite can remain at zero, then eh.

Water changes have no negative impact on cycling.

Thanks for the response. Makes me feel better about the readings. Just to be clear I did remove the Oscar’s and put them in a smaller 65g and replaced them with some 2x cichla and a jardini which are smaller in size. The Oscar’s were there while it was cycling and I took them out when it read zero but the numbers haven’t changed since. Oscars were only moved because they weren’t to fond of the jardini. I just wasn’t sure if I was ok to keep adding more fish without the risk of losing any. Guess I’ll just keep testing until something different comes up. Thanks again

 

[Iwhoopedbatman]

My only concern would be that your nitrate test might be defective or you're doing the test wrong. but Az is also correct that the Stability is the more likely culprit. Sounds like the tank is cycled to the point it can handle a couple oscars, which is a substantial bioload. Tanks never stop cycling, technically, as bacteria colonies are constantly replacing themselves, growing, dying, etc. depending on the amount of food they get.

However, Oscars (as in plural) in a 65 is already severely overstocked for the long term. Even just 1 in there is pushing it. And what size tank is that Jardini going in, because they get over 3 feet.

 

[Ronron89]

My only concern would be that your nitrate test might be defective or you're doing the test wrong. but Az is also correct that the Stability is the more likely culprit. Sounds like the tank is cycled to the point it can handle a couple oscars, which is a substantial bioload. Tanks never stop cycling, technically, as bacteria colonies are constantly replacing themselves, growing, dying, etc. depending on the amount of food they get.

However, Oscars (as in plural) in a 65 is already severely overstocked for the long term. Even just 1 in there is pushing it. And what size tank is that Jardini going in, because they get over 3 feet.

Tank I am cycling is a 300. The Oscar’s only went to the 65 as they were harassing the Jar. I do plan on getting rid of the jar and throwing the Oscar’s back in the 300. As the inhabitants grow I will be trimming keeping the ones I like or see suitable. The 65 is only a temp grow out tank really.

 

[Iwhoopedbatman]

Tank I am cycling is a 300. The Oscar’s only went to the 65 as they were harassing the Jar. I do plan on getting rid of the jar and throwing the Oscar’s back in the 300. As the inhabitants grow I will be trimming keeping the ones I like or see suitable. The 65 is only a temp grow out tank really.

Nice. Jumping right into a 300 is pretty cool. Have fun with that.

 

[Ronron89]

Nice. Jumping right into a 300 is pretty cool. Have fun with that.

Already have battle scars lol and thanks