Cyclin tank

[IshDeOne]

Started cycling my tank for abt two weeks already, and my nitrates levels are at 50.

Can i assume tat my tank is cycled? Cause i used live sand with dead rocksto cycle n i don see any algae or anything growing in the tank..

[Edmund Koh]

What are ur ammonia and nitrite levels?

[IshDeOne]

Haven tested those yet bro

[IshDeOne]

But if my nitrates are high. Cn i assume that ammonia n nitrite are 0?

[diki88]

although high nitrates are an indicator that ammonia and nitrite hv lowered, that doesn't mean its zero. just get an ammonia test kit. nitrite is not as bad as ammonia.

[Edmund Koh]

Yups better to test ammonia and nitrite rather then nitrate.

Before u add livestock, both ammonia and nitrite should be zero as they are both very harmful to lifestock. Nitrate should be as low as possible cos high amount is also harmful. Usually most people change 50% of their tank water to help reduce Nitrate. The other way is to allow for nitrate bacteria to grow and reduce the amount biologically.

[IshDeOne]

Thanks Bros.

[xiggie]

I would skip the ammonia and nitrite test kits. Because if you can already detect nitrate (no3) it means the bacteria are already present and already at work .

To play it safe wait another week and slowly SLOWLY stock your tank.

[xiggie]

But then again ... After reading some of your post... U need to have the necessary equipments first before u start adding live stock..