Cycling Patients, Hmmm (A Few qestions)

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OK, I'm probable being impatient but this forum seems to give me all the answers I need. He goes, My 12 gallon Eclipse has 4 Zebra and (two Chinese suckers to be replaced) (No real plants) in it for the cycle. Started on 7/21. My first reading of ammonia was not until 8/8. It is now 8/28 and it appears the ammonia is close to spiked,(2.0-2.5 however still no Nitites. My filter is loaded with substance and the bio wheel is turning fine. I started changeing the water like every other day so the ammonia levels don't kill my fish (so far so good no dead fish) My question are.
1.) When I put my new treated water in (via bucket) it disturbed the gravel substances a little, would this hurt the cycle like vacuming?( Dumb question HUH?)
2.) Do I do less frequent water changes or everyday?
3.) How much LONGER could this cycle take? (I want a few more fish)
4.) When and if the water cycles should I then change to a new filter as I still have the original one in there. Or should I vacum, leave the original filter in there for a while?
Thanks in advance to any and all responses:)
 
Andrew, sit back and enjoy the ride! If you want to speed the cycling, get some easy plants, like floating Water Sprite or Java Fern...

When I add water I pour it in strongly enough to raise detritus off the gravel, but not enough to makes gravel grains move. The detritus gets picked up in the filter in a couple of hours at most. I never vacuum the gravel in my densely planted setups.

The water changes are for the benefit of your fish. As long as there is detectable ammonia, the bacteria are multiplying as fast as they can to take advantage of this resource. Mo' ain't better.

The presence of detectable ammonia continues to repress the nitrite-metabolizers, though. They really get going once the ammonia-metabolizers have that NH3 under control.

Still, water changes every other day should be fine.

Don't add more fish until your nitrites are undetectable. Damage done during the cycle may not show up for months, when fish bloat with "dropsy" inexplicably.

Change a filter medium when it's raggy enough to let water pass through unfiltered. You can rinse and flush the detritus out of your filter media, using the water you're siphoning from the tank, as much as you want. The good bacteria are on there pretty solidly.

Expect the cycle to take a full month. Maybe a little more. Get a tan while you still can. Reorganize the garage. Separate your brown socks from your blue socks. Watch more tv...
 
That's a good question and a matter of personal preference. As long as there is food (ammonia) in excess of what they can consume, the bacteria will multiply. I don't believe there is any need to allow ammonia to exceed 1 ppm if there are fish in the tank, and I'd change water in sufficient volume and frequency to keep it below that level.

Jim
 
It is a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind that our hobbyist test kits have a lower limit as well as an upper limit in what they can detect. Water that tests 0 for ammonia most likely has ammonia present, just in a low enough level that is deemed safe.

I was shocked to discover that when our habitat biologists test water for nitrogen nitrates, they get results down to the thousandths, ie, .001 ppm--much more precise than our test kits.
 
A MONTH?

Wetman said it could take a month, A month once I get ammonia readings or from the beginnning. I started this cycle on 7/21. Thats almost 40 days
1.)The filter response, if I understand it right, while I'm in the cycle I could gently rinse it off in the water I take out of the tank while cycling? Maybe I'll just wait since there no problem with it.
 
It took me 8 weeks to do my last cycle of a fish/only tank with fish in it. It varies a tremendous amount because there are so many unpredictable variables involved.
 
If you want an instant cycle, try some fresh Bio-Spira. Also plants like wetman says would help.
good luck
:)
 
FINALLY, NITRITES Last questions!

My 38th day and I've got .25 nitrites in the tank. I will change water in the A.M.
1.) Now, How long should it normally take to every thing to get back to ZERO?
2.) All fish appear to be doing well! should I increase my water changes to everyday to finish this cycle off or should I let it run the course and change every other day?
 
Increasing the frequency of water changes won't hurry along the cycle. If you change water frequently enough to keep nitrites below .5 ppm, the cycle will progress nicely and your fish will be more comfortable.

Unfortunately, many people find tha this stage of the cycle (growing the nitrite-eating bacteria) takes longer than the first stage.

Hang in there. It will be over before you know it.

Jim
 
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