how long should fishless cycling take??...

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8isenuf

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Nov 11, 2007
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I have had my 28 gallon bowfront tank going for 3 weeks now with the ammonia at 5. There are still no nitrites at all?? How long is this supposed to take??

Thanks, Wendy
 
It can vary from tank to tank. My 26 Gallon tank took around 3-4 weeks. It's taken two months for some people. How are you adding ammonia?
 
What's the temperature and the pH? I think higher temperatures (up to 85 or so?) will help bacteria reproduce faster, and it's harder for the colony to grow with a low pH.

Do you have a source for any seed bacteria at all?

I know I'd be getting frustrated after 3 weeks with nothing happening.
 
I haven't had to add much ammonia at all, maybe a drop if I get it too low after a water change which I usually need to do every week if the ammonia level gets too high.
 
The temp is 78, I'll try raising it to 85, I have no ph test kit, I only bought ammonia and nitrite. I have not seeded the tank with any bacteria either?? should I try getting some?

Thanks, Wendy
 
why are you changing water in a fishless cycle?
 
I did a couple of water changes to lower the ammonia level in the tank when it got too high?
was that alright to do?? did I make it take longer by doing this?
Thanks, Wendy
 
I really dont think there is such thing as too much ammonia in a fishless cycle...the only reason it is bad to have in a tank is because it is toxic to fish...but you dont have any;)

The worst that can happen is that with so much ammonia you end up producing a much bigger bacteria colony than needed. But thats not really a bad thing anyways...
 
Ammonia levels over 6ppm can stall a fishless cycle out....

But what I am trying to figure out is why the ammonia level would be rising for you to do a water change at all??? .... Once you add the first dose to get it to 4-5ppm you dont add anymore until it starts dropping which means nitrites should start showing up.
 
Is all this necessary?

Ive always just let the tank run for a couple days and slowly add fish..
 
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