Am I fully cycled?

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LilySang
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:30 pm

Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:50 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:42 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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.
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burglar_4
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Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:32 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by burglar_4 »

LilySang wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:40 pm 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
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:53 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:45 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:30 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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.
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lynzor
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Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2024 4:45 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by lynzor »

Yo, 78°F is chill for cycling. Mine was at 82°F, and it cycled in like 2 weeks. Just sayin'.
Chili
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2024 12:57 am

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 9:47 pm

Re: Am I fully cycled?

Post by 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.
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