Is my cycle done?

[andygar]

I have been cycling for about 5 weeks. Ammonia peaked about 2 weeks ago, then dropped to very low readings 0.1 - 0.2. Nitrite only went up a little 0.4, but now it's down to 0. PH is at 8.6 temp 78 degrees. I just checked the Nitrate and it's reading 0 as well.
I know you are supposed to get a higher reading of Nitrate, but I have 2 mud filters running with lots of caulerpa that is supposed to actually eat up your Nitrate pretty fast.
My ammonia is still reading about 0.1 (just a tinge of green on the Fast Test). I am thinking it's still there because I added some raw shrimp about a week ago to keep the cycle going after most of my damsels died. I also put my dead damsels in the mud filters and let the critters have their way with them (pretty gross!)
The question is, is the cycle finished? Ammonia not being 0 could also be because I am feeding my last 4 damsels 3 times a day. Is that too much?

 

[steve40]

Once your levels are that low, test it everyday to make sure that it is steady and level. Sounds like its comming to the end though. Good luck and Congrats

 

[jedininja]

You are almost there. But I wouldn't add anything until ammonia is at 0.0 ALso you dont need to try to keep the cycle going by adding more shrimp. Sometimes nitrites just dont go up that high if you had bacteria in your tank already from live sand or rovk. But you are on a good start. Good luck.

 

[benj420]

Feeding three times per day during a cycle is way too much. Once every three days is better. The fish will be just fine, and the reduced bioload from the fish waste and left over food will allow the cycle to finish and ammonia to drop to 0. You can build up over time to feeding twice a day.
Also, you shouldn't use raw shrimp AND damsels to cycle, that's probably why the others died, from excess ammonia levels. They will generate their own ammonia without the shrimp.
It takes a while to build up nitrAte levels, so those readings should be low. Your mud bed will eventually reduce levels, but after only 5 weeks, it's probably not very effective.
Other than that, welcome and good luck. My advice is to read, read, read, then purchase.