So is my tank cycled yet?

Question

I used water (about 1/4 tank) and filter media from a friend's tank to set mine up. I went ahead and put in the fish immediately. It's been a month and I've done a 20% water change once. I haven't had any fish die. So is my tank cycled yet?

What are the criteria for having a cycled tank? How do you know it's cycled? I have about 9 fish in my tank.

Answer 1

Your tank is cycled when you're getting test readings of ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, and nitrates above 0 (and you should water changes to keep this number below 20-30).

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Answer 2

Your tank is cycled when there are enough nitrifying bacteria to process all the waste in the tank so that the ammonia and nitrite readings are always 0. Your tank probably is cycled now and the reason you didn't lose any fish was because you used filter media from an established tank so you had bacteria present from the start.

The best way to cycle a tank is without fish or by cloning it like you did on this on. Doing a fishless cycle is so much easier than cycling with fish. It takes 3 or 4 weeks but you are stuck doing water changes every day to keep from losing fish and you can get the fish you want rather than having to get hardy fish like danios to cycle. Below is a link to a good fishless cycling thread.

Answer 3

in the future to cycle your tank you should get a hardy fish or 2 depending on the size of the tank. like a gourami, a beta, some kind of fish that can breth air from the top of the tank and also has gills, a betta will work as well but you need to make sure that you are carefull what other fish you put in with your betta, you can usually put more than one female in a tank together. but only one male and not one of each. keep up with the 25% water changes weekly, and go to your local pet store and ket a freashwater test kit, it should test, ph, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia. it will cost you anywhere from 20- 25 dollars, but it is well worth the money to make sure your fish stay healthy. it helps also to make sure your levels stay safe in your fish tank.

Answer 4

First off 9 fish is a bit much for an uncycled tank. Second you know your tank is cycled when your water is crystal clear and when you test it there is 0 ammonia.

Answer 5

There should not be any ammonia if its cycled. each thing could be switched over into nitrates. end doing water variations so usually, in view which you're siphoning out all the micro organism. Ammolock would not get rid of ammonia, only convert it to non-poisonous ammonium. it could completely decrease to rubble your attempt readings too. end including that, and in straight forward terms do a water replace as quickly as a week. Then, after 3-4 weeks, you would be completely cycled.

Answer 6

We can not tell you if your tank is cycled. You have to test your water yourself, or most pet shops will test your water free of charge. Your tank is cycled when ammonia hits zero, nitrite hits zero, and nitrates show. More on cycling below.

Answer 7

yes but from now on, leave your tank with the filter on for a week at the least be4 addin fish.

Answer 8

Your tank should be OK now.