How do you tell when a tank is done cycling?

[jim27]

My 37 gallon has lots of brown algea and some green algea growing in it and I have four damsels in it right now. The temp is about 77 degrees F, the salinity is 1.025, the PH is 8.5, the amonia is 0, the nitrite is .8, and the nitrate is 25. I've had the tank for about 2 1/2 weeks. What will the levels be once my tank has cycled and will the brown algea be replaced with green?

 

[flatfish]

The brown algae will eventually go away, though not completely. A cleaner crew will take care of the rest. The green algae will eventually come one stronger, but it grows more slowly which is good.
Sounds like you are on the down side of your nitrate cycle. You need to try to get that reading a bit lower. With a tanks that size and four hardy fish (assuming a FO), you may never get your nitrates to 0. Don't overfeed, keep them hungry. If you have not done one yet, I'd do a 25% water change and monitor your readings for another week or two at least.
Being patient will save you lots of $$$.

 

[reefkeeper1]

have you been watching your levels if so you should of seen the changes from the amonia to trites that lets you now were you are in yoiur cycle. If your tank has not completly cycled and you do a water change it can cause it to take longer. We really need more info on your tank whats in it lr,ls reef or fo reef tanks contain there own bacteria in the live rock and can cycle much quicker than a tank with out. Watch your water reading if they do start to climb you may have to do a water change to save your fish. (If you use shrimp to cycle your tank you dont have to deal with the water changes to save your live stock while cycleing.)

 

[seatank]

your ammonia ,nitrite and nitrate should all be at 0 expecially the ammonia and nitrites nitrates are ok to a certin degree.

 

[jim27]

My tank has two live rocks and live sand as the substrate.
[ September 06, 2001: Message edited by: JIM27 ]

 

[dugan]

Jim... how many pounds of LR and how big is your tank?
Basically you need levels of 0 Nitrite, 0 Ammonia before you can be sure your tank is cycled. Your Nitrite will spike up and then you can change your water.
If you have a FO tank you probably will always have some level of nitrates in the water. You control this by not overfeeding, doing regular water changes, and using a protein skimmer.
Hope that helps...
Katie

 

[dugan]

Basically you need levels of 0 Nitrite, 0 Ammonia before you can be sure your tank is cycled. Your Nitrite will spike up and then you can change your water.
That should have said, Your NitrATE will spike up and then you can change your water.
Sorry...

Katie

 

[jim27]

I've stopped eeding my fish as much and my parameters areH 8.5, nitrate 25, nitrite .3, and amonia 0. I've noticed that my damsels are now starting to eat the brown algea. I also have a question, would I be able to keep two blue hippo tangs in my tank?

 

[jim27]

Well it looks like my tank is having an ammonia spike, I just tested the water and here are the new parametersH is 8.5, the ammonia is up to 1.5 from 0, the nitrite is 0, and the nitrate is 25. Now the tank has mostly green algea on the substrate but still alot of brown on the glass. Am I almost done with the cycle?
[ September 10, 2001: Message edited by: JIM27 ]

 

[jim27]

My ammonia is back down to 0, my nitrite is 0,my nitrate is 12.5-25, and my PH is 8.6. How much longer till my tank cycles?
EDIT: Why won't anyone answer my questions?!?!?!
[ September 11, 2001: Message edited by: JIM27 ]

 

[jimi]

If your nitrates are that high you are most likely done. How many pounds of live rock do you have? As far as the tangs go a 37 is too small for one tang in my opinion. Unless you get the tiny ones then you could keep them for a little while but most likely the damsels would kill them.