Cycling question. Please help. Confused

[cjz96]

Sunday, the 18th I set up a 55 gallon with eco compete substrate. BEFORE I added ANY ammonia source, the water tests came back as:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm
I have been adding food everyday since Sunday. Today, I tested the water and it came back as:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 20-40ppm
Could my tank have already cycled? I was preparing to wait 6-8 weeks. lol. Could it have been the eco complete that cycled the tank? It claims to already contain bacteria for cycling. Thanks.

[Wendyjo]

Hmmm, that doesn't sound right. The Eco does have some bacteria in it, but it shouldn't have cycled the tank before you even added a source of ammonia. When I cycled my 40g with Eco it still took about 7 weeks.

Try testing your tap water for nitrate and see if you get a reading.

[cjz96]

Originally Posted by Wendyjo

Hmmm, that doesn't sound right. The Eco does have some bacteria in it, but it shouldn't have cycled the tank before you even added a source of ammonia. When I cycled my 40g with Eco it still took about 7 weeks.

Try testing your tap water for nitrate and see if you get a reading.

I have, and the test came back negative for nitrates.

[Wendyjo]

How much food are you adding? Do you have any straight ammonia you can add to test it a bit further?

[cjz96]

Originally Posted by Wendyjo

How much food are you adding? Do you have any straight ammonia you can add to test it a bit further?

Not at the moment, no. I am using food until I can get my hands on a pure ammonia source. I am using a good amount, since it is a 55gallon.

[Hallyx]

What kind of filter media are you using? What kind of food (fishfood flakes or pellets, I presume)?

You are most assuredly not cycled. I'm willing to guess that something in the Eco Complete is leaching nitrate. Let me research it and get back to you.