DIY FISH TANK FILTERS
Test that a Tank is Cycled?
Using my chemical test kit, I’ve found that my somewhat cycled 10 gallon fish tank has ammonia= 0.50ppm, nitrite=0ppm, nitrate=5ppm.
I was wondering if there’s some method to test if it’s fully cycled or not.
Explaining “somewhat cycled” is complicated. Here goes.
I donated about half of the gravel in my 10 gallon tank to a 2 gallon tank, bottomless fish tank, and a DIY sump drip filter.
After washing out and sun drying my 10 gallon tank to store away, I regretted it. That was 2 days ago.
So I brought back all the gravel I had given out to the 10 gallon.
Now it’s at 80 degrees F with filter on, water pump, bubble wall, and fish food in hopes that I didn’t destroy all of the bacteria.
So is it safe to proceed to stock the tank again? Or is this just a mini-cycle?
To test your cycle, add a few ppm of ammonia, waiting a few hours, then test your water to confirm the bacteria is handling the ammonia.
DIY external canister fish tank filter part 2: the cost