test kit, is my tank cycled far enough to get fish?????????/

[brcacti]

Hello with api kit my amonia is 0, nitrite is .25 and nitrate is 10, my tank has been cycling for only 2 weeks plus so far. The test kit says my nitrites have to be at 0 is this true in your opinions??????????? My tank has to cycle longer?????????????//

 

[cheeseburger]

yes let your tank cycle a while longer until your nitrites get to 0 and nitrates about 5
are you cycleing the tank with fish?
if not you can put some $5 fish in there and if they die it doesn't matter
good luck with it
and post somepics of oscar

 

[brcacti]

Did have a fish in there the water got cloudy and obviously very bad the fish did not make it So I baught a test kit, before I did that I let my filter run and stired the gravel to get some dirt into the filter so it would start its cycling process. Right now there are no fish, should I get one or two????????????????

 

[cheeseburger]

just get a few cheapies and it should not take that long
the cyclying is nearly done just be patient
i was lucky with my tank i got it secondhand and the mmonia nitrites adnitrates were lready perfect
just have to et hedam ph right!!

 

[brcacti]

a week ago I also changed 1/3 of the water, and vacumed the gravel as I did that. The water has cleared and seems to be getting clearer each couple of days, it is almost perfectly clear now. A FX5 is cycling the water and a couple of days ago I hooked up a second FX5 and it is now starting its cycle.

 

[invisyblegypsey]

why kill fish just let it cycle its worth the wait

 

[Trippingpara]

I know that fishless vs fish cycling can be a hot topic, but I've never been very successful with fishless cycling. I always use some feeder fish to help cycle my tank. I let it cycle for a couple of weeks first and then add the feeders in. They cycle it pretty quickly and then they are food for the new fish. Its worked out great for me, but I know others that would disagree.

 

[brcacti]

What fish do you all suggest for making the cycle process faster?

 

[tchizzle]

Not to steal your thread or anything, but it's related, so I might as well ask.
Mine is in the process of cycling.

Are ghost shrimp good for cycling a tank? Thanks ahead of time.

What fish do you all suggest for making the cycle process faster?

I think feeders? since they are cheap?
I've added beneficial/nitrifying bacteria to my tank to help it cycle faster. That might help you a bit.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

It usually takes about 4 weeks so dont get too excited. You need a source of ammonia...either you adding ammonia directly or some goldfish. If you dont have a source the bacteria you just cultured will die and you will have to start over.


PS ghost shrimp are awful for cycling. They dont eat much so they dont produce much waste and they are not very hardy so they will die in the toxic water quickly.