Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has a rough idea how long it takes to cycle a tank. Mine is 150cm x 60cm x 60cm which I think works out roughly 100g allowing for stone and bits and bobs. The tank has been running 19 dyas now. At first, I put some prawns in and the ammonia levels did rise slightly. This quickly went back to almost 0, to replaced by a nitrite level of 0.50mg/l. I think that the nitrite is decreasing,but only slowly. The nitrate level is 50mg/l and the temperature is 32 deg. Does anyone know if I am on track or doing something really wrong. My local fish shop suggested me putting 12 tiger barbs in the tank to help, but I won't do this because I don't think thats right.

Nigel

Are there any fish in the tank at the moment?

No, I haven't put any fish in at all. I did raise the temp to 32 deg because I thought this might help.

I suspected as much.

The process of cycling the tank does seem to confuse a lot of people.It really is very straightforward once you get your head around it.

Okay, imagine that you installed a brand-new lavatory in your house but for six months you never use it, it is as good as new, sparkling clean. ow think the same way about your filter. It is installed on your tank but you've never had fish. Now go back to the lavatory, as soon as you start using it, bacteria will start growing in it, that's why we use disinfectant. Now back to your filter in your tank, as soon as you put fish in your tank, they will start going to the toilet which produces ammonia. The presence of ammonia will create bacteria in your filtration system. However, unlike the toilet, we need to nurture this bacteria because they remove the ammonia by feeding on it. It takes a few weeks to build up enough bacteria to maintain a tank with fish in it.

So when you put the prawns in, they created ammonia which is why you started getting a toxic reading.

So basically, no fish, mean no ammonia, which means you won't be able to cycle your tank.

Your fish shop were quite correct in suggesting that you put some fish in your tank, I'm surprised they didn't put you straight.

Thanks for the advice. I wrongly thought I could do it without any fish. I think tomorrow I shall buy some danios or something.At least I can give them to friends afterwards. Do you think 6 would be enough?

, it will probably take a very long time with that many fish considering your tank is 100 gallons. I would be inclined to start off with about 10 or 15 and see how you get on. Going by what you said already, I assume that you have got your test kits. Get your fish, feed them normally and test the water for ammonia every day. When it gets to .5, do something like 50% water change. It'll probably take a few days before this happens.


Keep us posted on your ammonia readings. Unfortunately for the fish you are using to cycle tank, you need to let the ammonia buildup fairly high before changing the water, if you keep the ammonia level very low all the time, it will take for ever to cycle your tank.having said that, you have got to balance the situation, not enough ammonia and you won't cycle tank properly, too much ammonia and all the fish die.

the fish guru had spoken... just follow his suggestion
and you won't go wrong in any direction.

for additional info...go to home page and surf topics there.
www.oscarfishlover.com/index.php/Cycled-...ycle-an-Aquarium.htm

Hi,

Thanks very much for the advice,although Ive kept fish for yonks,cycling a tank has never been something I fully understood until now. Today,I bought 12 tiger barbs who should start the ball rolling soon and I shall keep you posted in a day or so.

thanks again
Nigel.

P.s I wound the missus up,because I said I "might" keep the barbs after all!

Sounds good

LOL, The tanks will eventually take over your house!

Hi,

Im into day 5 of my fish cycling using the tiger barbs and I'm not sure if things are going as planned. I've had the water circulating for 24 days in total and in to day 5 the water parameters have changed quite a lot overnight!

Before I put the fish in the water levels were as follows.

Ammonia 0 (although I did have a slight increase at first,due to the prawns I put in).

Nirite 0.5mg/l

Nitrate 50mg/l

Ph 8.5.
Now into day 5 WITH the fish the water is like this.Ammonia still 0,Nitrite down to 0.1mg,nitrate down to 12.5mg/l, ph still 8.5. I have a nitrate removal tube set up,but Iam not sure if everything else is going as planned.

Best wishes
Nigel

with this development, you are on the right track.
allow them to run further without any alteration.
can you check your tap water for pH?