Question: Cycling question!

[SammyTheLotus]

Hi everyone! :happy:
Just a quick question.. I've been cycling my new tank for almost three weeks now, and performing 25% water changes and testing the water using the API Master Test Kit every other day.
I checked yesterday and my levels were as follows:

PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5.0

I've been using fish flakes as a source of ammonia for the bacteria to feed on after learning that the bottled "cycle" is basically useless.

My question is how will I know when my tank is fully cycled? I want to be as sure as possible because I don't want to put my axolotl into a potentially dangerous environment.
I did a little homework on when I would know for sure, but I'd love the advice of you wonderful people!

Thanks for reading and thanks for any information you might be able to give me!

 

[LSuzuki]

The easiest way to know when your tank is totally cycled is to go buy some plain ammonia and use it to bump up the ammonia in the tank to 4 ppm. (I am assuming you don't have an axolotl or fish in there - if you do, don't do this!) When the tank can take the 4 ppm ammonia to 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrite in 24 hrs, it is very fully cycled. (Do a very large water change when you are done to get rid of nitrates.)

Note: it takes mere drops to raise it to 4 ppm. Start with a drop. You may want to dilute it to make it easier to measure.

 

[SammyTheLotus]

The easiest way to know when your tank is totally cycled is to go buy some plain ammonia and use it to bump up the ammonia in the tank to 4 ppm. (I am assuming you don't have an axolotl or fish in there - if you do, don't do this!) When the tank can take the 4 ppm ammonia to 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrite in 24 hrs, it is very fully cycled. (Do a very large water change when you are done to get rid of nitrates.)

Note: it takes mere drops to raise it to 4 ppm. Start with a drop. You may want to dilute it to make it easier to measure.

Thanks for the great advice! After running around my small town for a few hours, I finally found a Home Hardware that sold the "Old Country" brand Ammonia for super cheap so I got it! :') Adding it to the tank now and checking my levels to get it to around 4 or 5 ppm.
♥♥♥