I'm getting a 29 gallon tank tomorrow and I read that it should sit for a day or two (all set up , of course) before adding fish. Then once you add fish it could take a week or two to completely cycle before adding more fish. Question is, how long does it take a 29 gallon tank to cycle and how do you know when it's done cycling?
How long does it take to cycle a 29 gallon tank?
- Thread starter shanna123
- Start date
i had a 29 biocube and it took about 3-4 weeks, you know when its fully cycled when u have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and minimal nitrate
to fully cycle, it can take weeks up to a month or so.. I used some bacteria additives to speed up the process. It just depends. Get yourself a liquid test kit to do the appropriate water parameter testing.
Check out this thread, loads of information here:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
Check out this thread, loads of information here:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
lol
It doesn't need to sit at all if you condition the water properly (ie remove chlorine if your water has it and make sure the temperature is correct). To fully cycle a tank you're looking at at least a month to 6 weeks. It will take you 3-4 weeks just for the ammonia to peak before it starts to drop. One or two weeks isn't even 1/2 way there. Try and get yourself some established media from a friend's tank, that's your best bet and the tank will cycle in no time.
The cycle process is done after your ammonia and nitrite spikes are complete and both are back down to zero. The final metabolic waste product- nitrate- must be removed manually with water changes- there is no bacteria that uses nitrate, but nitrate is also not bad for your fish until the concentrations get up over 20-30ppm.
When you have nitrate readings, then you know you are getting close to the end.
Have you considered doing a fishless cycle?
The cycle process is done after your ammonia and nitrite spikes are complete and both are back down to zero. The final metabolic waste product- nitrate- must be removed manually with water changes- there is no bacteria that uses nitrate, but nitrate is also not bad for your fish until the concentrations get up over 20-30ppm.
When you have nitrate readings, then you know you are getting close to the end.
Have you considered doing a fishless cycle?
Oh. ha ha! I thought maybe so...mine is boring.
Lol.. mine is pretty cool, wouldnt you agree.. Lol :thm: