How long did it take your tank to cycle?

[Heineken]

I'm cycling my tank at the moment. It has been a little over two weeks. Anyway, I've been testing my tank daily for the past week using seachem tests. Here are the readings from the last 3 days.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:5
pH:8.1
alk: 3.5 meq/l
ca: 400

Today makes 17 days. Only two weeks and it seems like I'm fully cycled. I know I should wait at least a few more weeks to make sure they are stable, but I had no idea it would only take two weeks to get to this point. I have about 140lbs LR and 50 lbs of dry base rock. I used 120lbs of aragamax aragonite sand and about 50lbs of LS from the lfs. (In a 90gal tank). If these readings keep up for a week or two, may I start with a clean-up crew? Maybe even add 2-3 green chromis that I've been waiting to get?

I had a brown algae outbreak a about a week and a half ago, and now it's pretty much gone. There's a bunch of green algae on the glass, but not as much as I expected after looking at a few pictures of other tanks. A clean-up crew would make fast work of it.

Anyway, I hope I can make a few additions before Christmas. That would be awesome!

 

[effin]

My tank cycled pretty quickly as well. When I got to the point you are at, I started stocking my cleaning crew. I also bought my first fish and put him in qt. Since the fish needed a couple weeks in qt, that gave me time to make sure that the cycle really was complete.

 

[grimlock3000]

I would give it another few days, then start adding your clean up crew a handful of snails and crabs at a time. Looks like you are making great progress.

Post some pics of your tank Heineken

 

[X the Outsider]

Almost a month for mine to be complete. The brown stage lasted a little longer than expected.

 

[yanek]

When I rebuilt my tank, I had it cycled after 11 days. I used a spray (not a whole lot -- 5 llbs) of existing live sand, some existing live rock, a lot of new live rock, and some existing water (20 G?) for my 75G. Monitored closely every day, performed water changes and ran my skimmer.

I started adding critters as soon as the cycle appeared over. No problems.

 

[arminkropp]

Did you use any additives or did the LR and LS do all the work?

thx

 

[Heineken]

I didn't use any additives. I heard that they may be detrimental to your tank. I just used a lot of LR and LS. Can't wait to start adding a few things.

 

[IfoundNemo]

My brand new 75gal tank took only 3 weeks to complete the cycle process. I cycled with 3 cocktail shrimps and LS/LR.