Is it possible to run a half cycled tank?

[West1]

I know very little about water chemistry and usually start new tanks w/cycled media. W/that out of the way, I have 2 test kits (API and red sea deluxe) and I'm getting the same reading on my planted tank which has been up for well over a year or 2 with my newly cycled 300... 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite and 0ppm nitrate.

I'm guessing they might need to be calibrated as they are atleast one year old. This raises a question as when I first got them, my 300 had been up for about 4 years or so and w/a previous kit I got the same readings when testing my water between my 14" Goliath and Armatus combo.

This is probably my first actual cycle from scratch (going into 5th or 6th week now) and I've been keeping tabs on my params n last week from all high, they slowly went to 0ppm with in 5 days... I'm curious to know if my schedule of 50% water changes faithfully over the years has been what's been able to keep my params in check since technically it sounds like none of my past tanks were 100% cycled due to 0ppm nitrate. If this is the case, I will start to half cycle my tanks since ive been lucky to raise some pretty sensitive fish under these conditions....

Feedback please as I'm thinking about tossing in some young Armatus to see the results

 

[brich999]

Should be good after 5 weeks

 

[J.Lake]

Try using seachems stability to be safe for a week

 

[KaiserSousay]

The zero nitrate has me scartching my head.
Never had that myself.
From your post, you say your tanks/fish seem to be doing well.
I either question your kits or your testing procedure, but hey, it seems to be working for you.

 

[West1]

The zero nitrate has me scartching my head.
Never had that myself.
From your post, you say your tanks/fish seem to be doing well.
I either question your kits or your testing procedure, but hey, it seems to be working for you.

It could very well be my kits and I'm guessing so. I think it's pointless to have my water tested at a LFS as those kits are probably worst than mine Lol.

You see where I'm going w/this though right? Since I never took record or payed much attention, I think I've had 7 total tanks w/these param numbers.

I guess the only way to see is to gamble with an Armatus as Goldfish are to hardy Lol. I'll write my numbers down for 2 weeks and compare them... Thanks