Cycling

GoLdFiSh_GrL

Aquarius
Aug 25, 2003
306
0
0
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San Diego, CA
www.xanga.com
I barely got a new 29 gal. today, and I'm going to start cycling it tomorrow when I get home from school. How long will it take to finish cycling? Here are the tank details:

it has artificial plants
has a piece of driftwood in the middle
has a rock structure in the back corner surrounded by plants
has pea gravel

about how long (in your opinion) do you think it'll be ready for me to start putting fish in? I'm already excited and impatient about getting my fish!
 
don't remember... i think its an emperor 4 a 50 gal.
 
What are you doing to cycle it? Read the stickies at the top here and those will help you...

Buy Bio-Spira if you want that quick of a cycle.
 
A proper cycle takes much longer than "one week". Infact, even with Bio-Spira it can take as long as 4-6 weeks to cycle. Also, it sounds like you think the water cycles on it's own but this isn't the case either. You must have an ammonia source (which you can buy at your local grocery store) to start a cycle of any kind.

If you'd like more info on properly cycling your tank, visit my website (its under my signature) and go to the cycling section. I'm sure you could find lots of info on search engines as well...;)
 
With bio-spira the tank is cycled instantly if used correctly. That is the point of buying it. In fact if you don't add fish in 24 hours I believe the bacteria all die since there will be no food source.
 
No personal experience with BioSpira, but the numerous reports I've read from others who have access to it suggest it does pretty much cycle the tank instantly. Some have reported a minor nitrite spike, but it certainly doesn't take 4-6 weeks.

Jim
 
Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
Infact, even with Bio-Spira it can take as long as 4-6 weeks to cycle

I'm having a hard time believing that...perhaps you are thinking of one of the many "snake oil" cycling products out there?
 
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