View Full Version : How long to cycle a 40 gallon??
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 4:34 PM
does anyone know how long it will take to cycle a 40 gallon breeder tank if i have 2 blk skirts 7 gohst shrip and two feeder guppies in there and have put a filter cartrige in whith a new cartrige in a pengiun biowheel 200? it has been established for 2 days.
Needeles
08-23-2006, 4:47 PM
It really varies on alot of different things. The only way to know when a tank is fully cycled in by checking the water prams. On a guess I would say it will take 2-3 weeks with your setup.
jm1212
08-23-2006, 4:53 PM
also, just a suggestion, but i dont think your filter cycles the water enough times per hour. if you have room on the back, you could get a penguin 100 or 150 to go with the 200. if you have no more space, then you might want to try upgrading to a 350. they use the same biowheels and then you replace one of the new biowheels with the one with all of the bacteria, and you get two, so wont go through a cycle.
budrecki
08-23-2006, 5:32 PM
I've never seen a tank cycle in less than 5 weeks without the addition of a starter (i.e. seeded filter, seeded gravel, or biospira)
Rbishop
08-23-2006, 5:50 PM
4-5 weeks if you are diligent.
I also agree, you need more filtration.
WrittenLyric
08-23-2006, 5:53 PM
The Penguin 200 filters 200 gph..That should be more than sufficient no?
Edit: Oops. Just did my research, Get another Penguin 100 or jump up to the Penguin 300 on its own.
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 5:55 PM
im sry if im being rude but did anyone read the first post on this thread i said i have put a fully cycled filter cartridge in the filter as well as the new one ( two slots) i thought that would make the total cycling a whole lot faster. or no?
thanks for the advice so far
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 5:57 PM
The Penguin 200 filters 200 gph..That should be more than sufficient no?
thats what i thought when i bought the stupid thing it says it filters up to 50 gallons
nvm
Rbishop
08-23-2006, 5:59 PM
Go back and read your post, you never stated it was fully cycled.
WrittenLyric
08-23-2006, 6:00 PM
thats what i thought when i bought the stupid thing it says it filters up to 50 gallons
"It is recommended that the aquarium water be circulated through the power filter three to five times per hour."
From article on petsmart.com (http://www.petsmart.com/global/articles/article_detail.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673 267322&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696503989&bmUID=1155932534532&N=229)
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 6:02 PM
Go back and read your post, you never stated it was fully cycled.
opps im so sry. really i am. i could have sworn i had. so beside my retartedness all of the cloudiness was gone by this morning and i started and put starter fish in 2 days ago.
once again im real sry :thud:
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 6:04 PM
"It is recommended that the aquarium water be circulated through the power filter three to five times per hour.
it is 40 times 3 120 it circulates 200 same with 5 40 times 5 200. im just sayin. but i probably will get another filter
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 6:14 PM
so can anyone tell me how long it wil be with this fully cycled cartridge? once again i did not mean to make anyone mad:( :bowing:
Rbishop
08-23-2006, 6:22 PM
You are basically doing a fishy cycle with a jump start of established bacteria. Monitor ammonia/nitrite/nitrates. Keep ammonia and nitrites at zero with water changes. When you are consistently at zero on ammonia/nitrites and some level of nitrates, without water changes you will have an established tank, then start your routine water changes to keep your nitrates in check.
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 6:27 PM
You are basically doing a fishy cycle with a jump start of established bacteria. Monitor ammonia/nitrite/nitrates. Keep ammonia and nitrites at zero with water changes. When you are consistently at zero on ammonia/nitrites and some level of nitrates, without water changes you will have an established tank, then start your routine water changes to keep your nitrates in check.
sry but any idea how long that will be? i just wanna get an estimate (sp) so i dont do it to quickly
forgot to mention but i have a ton of live plants like anachrius swords and other unkown plants and i have added co2 boosters and bacteria boosters guess thats a lot to leave out
lol
Rbishop
08-23-2006, 6:37 PM
Yes, that changes things quite a bit. I am not a guru on cycling with plants and CO2 injection going on. Better wait for a more experienced plant type to post some help. Sorry.
ReefRaft
08-23-2006, 6:39 PM
no prob thanks for all the help!
ftf1101
08-23-2006, 7:28 PM
well i think with all the stuff that has been said by my predesesors, you should be good to go in about 1-2-3 weeks or so! lol i have no clue but yur my cousin so i thot id post