I have just purchased my first freshwater/saltwater test kit today. I have had the tank establish for about a month with nothing but one feeder guppy in it. I have been performing 10% water changes weekly and feeding the tank flake food. I want to know where and what to do next and also where I am at in the cycling process? Here is my current test results:

pH- 7.5 mg/l
KH- 3.5 dH (carbonate hardness)
NO2- 0 mg/l (Nitrite)
GH- 3 dH (General hardness)
NH3/NH4- 3.0 mg/l (ammonia)
CO2- 3 mg/l (carbon dioxide)
NO3- 5 mg/l (nitrate)

Fist of all, welcome to the forum!

Looks like you are close to the beginning of your cycle. Either that or your bacteria colonies are a little out of whack. The thing to keep the closest eye on at this point is the Ammonia level. Ammonia should be 0 before you put any more fish into the tank. I'm surprised the guppy is still alive with ammonia that high. The Nitrite looks good, but it should rise higher than 0 once the Ammonia begins to fall. Just as a primer or review (whichever the case may be) waste and decomposing materials produce/become Ammonia. Ammonia is broken down by a bacteria colony to become Nitrite. Nitrite is broken down by a second bacteria colony to become Nitrate. Nitrate is the least toxic of the three and is generally removed by performing water changes. A tank is considered "cycled" once the Ammonia and Nitrite levels have fallen back to 0 from whatever they were at the beginning of the cycle.

One thing to keep in mind about cycling is that you have to be careful and take your time stocking your tank. Just because your tank has cycled with one fish doesn't mean the bacteria colonies are robust enough to handle 5 fish. I made this mistake with my first freshwater tank and lost quite a few nice fish. Be patient and keep up the good work and you'll have a tank full of beautiful fish before you know it. :)

Thank you Rychek for the helpful information I will use it when stocking my tank. Darn I hate that it has just started cycling because I have had it set up for about a month now.

Keep an eye on the Ammonia and Nitrite levels and keep doing what you're doing. It may sort its self out in less time than you think.

I agree...even though your tank may not be cycled yet, you probably have a very good jump start due to the month of waiting you have already put in. Other than that, Rychek is definitely on the ball (just chiming in to see if I could help you avoid being too discouraged ).

I'm not too dicouraged. I'm just ready to get some fish to put in it and watch them enjoy this Florida weather lol.

I know what you mean (except for the Florida weather part). :)