Is my cycle complete?

[texasfootball21]

I started my cycle about 17 days ago on my 20 gallon.
My test kit read like this:
Temp.-80
SG-Right between 1.023 and 1.024
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-30
pH-8.2
The water is RO/DI water with Instant Ocean Salt.
Am I ready for fish? I haven't done a water change yet, if I do one will I be ready?
Thanks.

Oh and if I mixed up Nitrates and Nitrites I apologize.

[Bill S]

Nitrates/Nitrites = big difference.

If your Nitrites are ZERO, you might be there. Test again to be sure. Ammonia=>Nitrites=>Nitrates.

[RayAllen]

Add fish slowly. Add the fist and then the nexy a few days later. This really allows the tank to break itself in with the new introduced waste.

[txstateunivreefer]

go get you a black molly plop it in there wait three days and test again if all are at 0 then FISH TIME!! and remove the molly and like mentioned above add slowly that way your bacteria levels can adjust and add least agressive to most

[MissT]

If the ammonia and nitrItes are at 0, then do your water change. Think about doing your clean up crew before you start in on the fish. Wait as long as you can stand to wait before getting one... you'll be glad you did later! You can start adding softies pretty quick after the cycle, so that may help you hold off on the fish. Take your time and you'll get better results in the end.

[alton]

I agree with MissT just because your tank has cycled doesn't mean it has matured. Add a couple of scarlet reef or hawaiian crabs and see how they do before adding fish. Then add a couple of small cheap frags(Example: GSP/Kenyan Trees/Mushroom) Good luck and welcome to the saltwater world.

[erikharrison]

I also ditto Miti's comment. You don't want to rush and get discouraged!

[texasfootball21]

Thanks!
I'm really tempted to run over to AD and buy a fish but I guess I'll wait.
I already have a hermit crab and some snails in there that came with my live rock and sand.
I will try to buy a clean up crew today after a water change.
Thanks again!

[texasfootball21]

Wait a minute, are you saying add soft corals then fish? I was under the impression that you should wait about a month after the tank cycles to add coral.

[MissT]

some of the softies are fine. You don't want to add anything really finicky at this point. it's really easy to rush at the beginning, but try to learn from other people's mistakes. I for one set up my first saltwater tank and not really knowing the consequences, rushed to get everything added. That tank gave me more trouble than you could imagine. Everything from cyano and bryopsis outbreaks to an unevolved ecosystem that couldn't support the life in the tank. I ended up selling everything off and started new because I was so frustrated. The next tank, I waited 6 months before adding anything except softies and my clean up crew. And I couldn't be happier with it in the end.

[erikharrison]

I read a quote from someone elses site that said, "Just remember you are taking a septic system and making it an ecosystem."

[texasfootball21]

Thanks!
I added a firefish! He just just added to the tank after drip acclimation. He looks great.
I will soon fortify my small clean up crew and wait around a week or more until the next fish is added. I may look for some softies soon.
Thanks.