Cycleing takes forever - Aquarium Advice

Fishy1954 · 07-04-2006, 03:31 PM

At least it seems that way.My 45 gallon tank has been going 3 weeks and I still am not getting any Nitrite readings, and Ammonia is still around 1 ppm. I am doing 25% water changes every other day to keep the fish safe. How much longer of this **** do I have to endure?

Thanks in advance

**Fishyfanatic** · 07-04-2006, 03:44 PM

It typically takes between 6 to 8 weeks when cycling with fish. It's faster to go fishless but since you already have fish it is going to be a longer wait.

Lonewolfblue · 07-04-2006, 03:51 PM

I completely agree, 6-8 weeks, and sometimes longer. Do you have anything that you could kickstart the cycle, like some filter material from another aquarium from a friend or relative? Can also try Stress Zyme. I've used it and cycled a friends tank in about 2 weeks. It's not quite like Bio-Spira, but it worked. I've tried Cycle, but never did anything for me. Just a waste of money.

Fishy1954 · 07-04-2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolfblue

I completely agree, 6-8 weeks, and sometimes longer. Do you have anything that you could kickstart the cycle, like some filter material from another aquarium from a friend or relative? Can also try Stress Zyme. I've used it and cycled a friends tank in about 2 weeks. It's not quite like Bio-Spira, but it worked. I've tried Cycle, but never did anything for me. Just a waste of money.

Went thru almost a whole bottle of Stress Zyme! Guess I just have to be patient.

Big Ben · 07-04-2006, 04:11 PM

Just add something from an established tank, a decoration or a bit of gravel or Squeezings from an established filter sponge. It really kickstarts things. I added some gravel from my 10 gal into the filter and decorations from my 10 to my 50 gal to cycle it. Fishless, it took 18 days from start to finish, ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.

hsherman1986 · 07-04-2006, 04:23 PM

i cycled a 10 gal in a week with a well establised filter pad. Fed the bacteria with fish food until the end of the cycle. I only have four fish in there right now. I put the first fish in (a betta) then a week later I added a full grown molly, and two of her surviving babies.

Burks · 07-04-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Ben

Just add something from an established tank, a decoration or a bit of gravel or Squeezings from an established filter sponge. It really kickstarts things.

I did the same thing for my 14g hex. I added a clay pot to my 10g about a month ago because I knew the 14g hex would be set up soon. Took that out along with a few other rocks, substrate, plants, and squeezed out my filter. About three weeks later my ammonia reading were hardly detechable.

Speakerman · 07-04-2006, 05:54 PM

soak your filter media, or bio wheel in cycle or stress zyme for about 30 minutes, then put the media back in the tank. Pour all of the cycle, or stress zyme on the filters every 10-15 minutes untill you run out. Costs about 20 bucks that way...but talk about a kickstart.....My 150 is almost stable and I've only had water in it for about oh say....2 days maybe...heh. I've on'y got a small reading of .2 ammonia

Fishy1954 · 07-04-2006, 06:33 PM

Wow, That sounds great. Anybody else ever think of this?

Thanks

07-04-2006, 03:31 PM	#1
Fishy1954 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 23	Cycleing takes forever At least it seems that way.My 45 gallon tank has been going 3 weeks and I still am not getting any Nitrite readings, and Ammonia is still around 1 ppm. I am doing 25% water changes every other day to keep the fish safe. How much longer of this **** do I have to endure? Thanks in advance

07-04-2006, 03:44 PM	#2
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	It typically takes between 6 to 8 weeks when cycling with fish. It's faster to go fishless but since you already have fish it is going to be a longer wait. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

07-04-2006, 03:51 PM	#3
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	I completely agree, 6-8 weeks, and sometimes longer. Do you have anything that you could kickstart the cycle, like some filter material from another aquarium from a friend or relative? Can also try Stress Zyme. I've used it and cycled a friends tank in about 2 weeks. It's not quite like Bio-Spira, but it worked. I've tried Cycle, but never did anything for me. Just a waste of money. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

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07-04-2006, 04:11 PM	#5
Big Ben Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 245 Images: 7	Just add something from an established tank, a decoration or a bit of gravel or Squeezings from an established filter sponge. It really kickstarts things. I added some gravel from my 10 gal into the filter and decorations from my 10 to my 50 gal to cycle it. Fishless, it took 18 days from start to finish, ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.

07-04-2006, 04:23 PM	#6
hsherman1986 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 719	i cycled a 10 gal in a week with a well establised filter pad. Fed the bacteria with fish food until the end of the cycle. I only have four fish in there right now. I put the first fish in (a betta) then a week later I added a full grown molly, and two of her surviving babies.

07-04-2006, 05:54 PM	#8
Speakerman Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: College Station, Texas Posts: 326	soak your filter media, or bio wheel in cycle or stress zyme for about 30 minutes, then put the media back in the tank. Pour all of the cycle, or stress zyme on the filters every 10-15 minutes untill you run out. Costs about 20 bucks that way...but talk about a kickstart.....My 150 is almost stable and I've only had water in it for about oh say....2 days maybe...heh. I've on'y got a small reading of .2 ammonia

07-04-2006, 06:33 PM	#9
Fishy1954 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 23	Wow, That sounds great. Anybody else ever think of this? Thanks