I'm in the 9th day of cycling a 55 gal tank with 5 small danios, and I'm not sure if my tank is actually cycling or not. So far, the fish are doing great, and my tank looks great as well. However, for some reason my ammonia registers at .5 (although this might be skewed since I'm using Prime), but my nitrites continue to be at 0. Also, I haven't experienced any clouding of the tank, which apparently is to be expected when cycling. BTW, I'm using a new emperor 400 with 2 filters. Does this sound normal to you? Should I perhaps pull out the 2 disposable filters until the tank cycles? (perhaps the filters are keeping ammonia levels too low for bacteria to form) Any advice? Thanks.
Tank not cycling?
- Thread starter tampa4
- Start date
It's going to take longer than 9 days. Your tank has begun the process, as can be seen by the appearance of ammonia. It will probably take a month, or more likely two months for the cycle to complete. Just be patient, and do water changes religiously.
I'm actually using a liquid master test kit (contains two seperate bottles for testing.) However, the readings are always the same, even if I do a 30% water change (for example.) I guess my main question was, are my new emperor filters perhaps preventing the tank from cycling?
No, the filters will not slow down or prevent your cycle from establishing.
The water changes should be continued to minimize stress on your fish, or any permanent damage.
Keep up the good work; fishy cycles are very labor intensive.
The water changes should be continued to minimize stress on your fish, or any permanent damage.
Keep up the good work; fishy cycles are very labor intensive.
How long it takes to cycle a tank depends greatly upon whether or not you seed it with bacteria from an established tank.
I'll give you two examples from my own personal experience.
After I moved I started a new tank from scratch last year. I added ammonia and a good filter. I didn't seed it with any bacteria. Seven weeks into it, it still hadn't cycled and most the ammonia was still there. Then I added some filter floss from a friend's tank and it cycled within four days.
I just set up my grow-out tank. I used filter media from my established tank, added some ammonia, and within 24 hours no nitrites or ammonia. Instant cycle.
I'll give you two examples from my own personal experience.
After I moved I started a new tank from scratch last year. I added ammonia and a good filter. I didn't seed it with any bacteria. Seven weeks into it, it still hadn't cycled and most the ammonia was still there. Then I added some filter floss from a friend's tank and it cycled within four days.
I just set up my grow-out tank. I used filter media from my established tank, added some ammonia, and within 24 hours no nitrites or ammonia. Instant cycle.