Am I fully cycled?

[LilySang]

I've been cycling my 20 gallon tank for about 3 weeks now. Ammonia drops to 0 within 24 hours after dosing to 2 ppm, nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are around 10 ppm. Is this enough to say I'm fully cycled? I'm using a sponge filter and have some Java Fern in there.

[sweetflake]

If your ammonia and nitrites are consistently at 0 after 24 hours, and you're seeing nitrates, that's a good sign. How often are you testing? I'd recommend testing daily for another week to be sure. Also, what's your pH? Low pH can slow down the cycle.

[dawnbyte]

I'm kinda in the same boat. My tank's been cycling for a month, and the numbers are all over the place. Sometimes ammonia's gone, sometimes it's not. It's driving me nuts.

[burglar_4]

I've been cycling my 20 gallon tank for about 3 weeks now. Ammonia drops to 0 within 24 hours after dosing to 2 ppm, nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are around 10 ppm. Is this enough to say I'm fully cycled? I'm using a sponge filter and have some Java Fern in there.

Sounds like you're on the right track. The key is consistency. If those numbers hold for another week, you're golden. What's your water temp? Warmer water can speed up the cycle.

[Flarex]

I'd also check your KH. If it's too low, the cycle can stall. Had that happen to me once. Took forever to figure out.

[Aurorix8]

Yeah, KH is a big deal. Mine was at 2 dKH, and the cycle just wouldn't complete. Added some crushed coral, and bam, it was done in a week.

[LilySang]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll test daily for another week and check my KH. My pH is around 7.4, and the temp's at 78°F. Fingers crossed.

[lynzor]

Yo, 78°F is chill for cycling. Mine was at 82°F, and it cycled in like 2 weeks. Just sayin'.

[Chili]

Temperature can definitely affect the speed of the cycle. Higher temps increase bacterial activity, but 78°F is perfectly fine. Consistency is more important than speed.

[finwave1]

I dunno, man. My tank cycled in like 10 days at 80°F. Maybe I just got lucky. Or maybe it's the Seachem Stability I dumped in there.