2006-12-20 02:48:34 · 9 answers · asked by jack m 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
No. Once the cloudiness (triggered by an ammonia spike) goes away, the nitrite spike will come and can last another week or more.
You need to test the water for nitrites, nitrates and ammonia. When ammonia and nitrites are 0, and nitrates are about 20-30ppm, your tank is cycled.
Until then, do small daily water changes to see the ammonia poisoning the fish are going through.
2006-12-20 02:53:51 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, the cloudiness has nothing to do with cycling the tank.
The cycle will be complete when ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and nitrate levels start to climb.
You should test your tank water weekly during the cycling process to see where it is. Most pet stores will test a water sample for free.
Simply bring a cup or so of water from the tank to the store. Try to take it just before you leave for the store as some levels can be affected by changes in temperature.
2006-12-20 15:32:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a good sign, but it does not necessarily mean the cycle is complete. The best way to tell for sure is to buy a test kit. At the very minimum, you should get a kit that tests for nitrates. That's nitrAtes, with an "A". Walmart, for example, sells a dip-strip test kit, with plenty of strips to start one tank. When you see the nitrAtes appear and start to build, the proper bacteria are present and the tank is cycled.
Nitrates are the relatively harmless last stage of the decomposition of ammonia (in fish waste). You remove nitrates with partial, regular water changes. More on cycling can be read here, among other places: http://howmanyfish.com...
2006-12-20 02:54:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. White cloudiness is common in new tanks. the bacteria that eat debris go a little nuts reproducing at first.
A totally different set of bacteria are involved in cycling. One set that convert ammonia (toxic) to nitrIte (still toxic) to nitrAte (less toxic). Here's what happens in a new tank and how to keep your water from getting toxic.
http://thegab.org/Articles/WaterQualityCycling.html
Here's a good summary of the types of bacteria in aquaria, along with info on water qualilty and filtration.
http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/waterinfo.html
2006-12-21 08:11:29 · answer #4 · answered by Betty H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the first stage may be done but it doens't mean that either. The only way to tell if the cycling is done is to test your water, when there is no ammonia, no nitrite and there is some nitrate then it is cycled.
2006-12-20 02:51:43 · answer #5 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no, the cloudyness is usually just from whatever substrait you used. it will take up to a few weeks to fully cycle depending on the size of the tank
2006-12-20 02:55:00 · answer #6 · answered by mickey g 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it doesn't. I would get a test kit so you know for sure!
2006-12-20 02:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by angelmwilson 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it means that it is clean and keepon doing what you are doing
2006-12-20 07:27:26 · answer #8 · answered by unknown 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.
2006-12-20 07:41:34 · answer #9 · answered by fish lips 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋