Catfish and Cycling - Now 3 Weeks?

[chiselchst]

Greetings,

I have started a new 100-gallon aquarium with 2-Emperor 400's and an (aerated) power head, and large 2-air stones with a Rena 400 air pump.

I have 12-small catfish (<1 inch long) abd one blugill about 3-inches (had 3 - but they did NOT get along), one minnow 2.5" and a stickleback about 1" long. All harvested from a local pond that dries up each year (I saved their lives? LOL).

I have been having to do major water changes to keep the nitrItes low, and have bound the ammonia with amquel.

My question is, how long should it take to fully cycle my filters?

Thanks,
Mitch

PS Water results before todays 50% water change are:

Ammonia - 1.5
NitrIte - 1.0
NitrAte - 20
pH - 8
KH Hardness - 4

Again, this previous to a 50% water change. All fresh water treated with Amquel.

Comments? Thanks...

 

[vato]

Your filters will take about 4-6 weeks unless you "seed" your filters with established filter media. Also if you are trying to cycle the aquariums, do not do any water changes or ad any amquel, as all this will do is slow down your cycle.

 

[RTR]

Water changes during cycling do not slow down the cycle, they protect the lives of the fish.