cycling question

[Perseusmom]

Your on track looks great and no in fact its good that the nitrate is raising. Yes the blue filter pad should be fine to use.

[katmandew]

YES!!! thanks so much for answering. I can finally see the light coming at the end of the road. Patience, patience, patience! :)

[Perseusmom]

Your welcome and I know how you feel its so exciting when you know your getting closer to a cycled tank I was the same way !!!

[AyalaCookiejar]

I have been cycling one of my tanks for over a month, now. I have some nitrates and I had .25 nitrites but it dropped back down to 0 and the ammonia hasn't really gone anywhere.

You should have a nitrite spike that will be way higher than .25. If it falls back down to 0, it means you really haven't had a spike, yet.

[katmandew]

I was happy to see even a slight change but yes I know it could take several more weeks but I'm willing to wait to be sure I'm doing the right thing, thanks :)

[AyalaCookiejar]

Yes, hopefully yours will go up from there. They're supposed to "skyrocket" overnight, I guess.
Mine went to .25 then dropped to 0 with ammonia still present. I m bummed about that, lol. :/

[katmandew]

As I get closer to the end of cycling my 5 gallon tank I want to make sure I’m doing this right. I’ll try not to be long winded but please let me know if the following are the steps I should follow.

Once the ammonia disappears within 24 hours and the testing reads:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates <20
My PH has remained steady at 7.6

Do a 50% water change
Rinse filter pad in used water
I’m replacing the carbon with a sponge, rinse in used water
Treat the new water with Prime using enough to condition the whole tank (1/2 mL)
Let it run overnight and test, if everything is good I can then add a Betta

Adding a Betta
Pour out 10% of the water in the cup and add in tank water, wait 5 minutes
Pour out 25% of the water, add in tank water, wait 5 minutes
Pour out 50% of the water, add in tank water, wait 5 minutes
Fish is ready to be placed in the tank. Do I put the fish in with the water in the cup or just net the fish and put it in?

Weekly 25% water changes with gravel vacuuming
Monthly rinsing of the filter media in used water
Please let me know if all the above steps are correct. One other thing, even though I have my filter baffled with a plastic bottle there is still enough current on top to move food around. Is it safe to turn off the filter when I feed the fish? I have bio-gold pellets and freeze dried bloodworms for a snack. Any help is appreciated :)

[katmandew]

Could someone please tell me if I'm correct in my previous post. I'm really desperate to do the right thing.

[Oldfishlady]

Your plan looks good....

[katmandew]

Originally Posted by Oldfishlady

Your plan looks good....

Great thank you!