Cycleing taking a long time

[Banana mouse]

Iv been cycling my tank (fishles) for 3 days, the ammonia has only fallen 1 ppm any ideas on why it's taking so long?

Iv cycled tanks before so I have the right conditions for the tank

 

[tamtam]

umm. 3 days? That's not long at all.. A normal fish less cycle with no seeded media can take between 6-8 weeks.

These times vary based on your process and method of course. If you have a lot of seeded media that will help boost things along it can take less time but sometimes hiccups make it take longer.

 

[Banana mouse]

The last tank I done the ammonia started to fall with in 2 days and that's with no seeded media.

I'm replacing the carbon in my 200L tomorrow should I put that carbon into the tank that is cycling? Then remove it after 3-4 days.

The carbon is really really cheap so I replace it every 2-3 weeks so I know it won't leak anything int the tank

 

[bud29]

Oh yeah, if your ammonia has been dropping and you are only 3 days into it, you are doing so much better than me! It took me 5 WEEKS to start to see an ammonia drop. And I had seeded media!

 

[Banana mouse]

Ill give it more time then, I'm just nor respecting the fact that it takes a while.
Is the carbon a good idea?

 

[tamtam]

The last tank I done the ammonia started to fall with in 2 days and that's with no seeded media.

I'm replacing the carbon in my 200L tomorrow should I put that carbon into the tank that is cycling? Then remove it after 3-4 days.

The carbon is really really cheap so I replace it every 2-3 weeks so I know it won't leak anything int the tank

if you are only leaving it for a few days I wouldn't bother. That won't give much time for colonization of bacteria really. Some other filter media that you could leave for a few weeks, or permanently would be awesome.

Your very lucky on the success of your past cycles. lol. Like bud said it can take a couple weeks sometimes to see that drop. Took about 9 days for my tank to show a drop and the ammo conversion is the quickest.

 

[shellieca]

Wow, I would've LOVED for my tanks to have cycled so quickly . . . my 10g took 8 wks & my 46g took 6 to complete the cycle. The 10g had nitrites for 2 weeks straight & then poof they were gone. I agree that if you're ammo is dropping in 3 days then you're way ahead of the game. Do you have nitrites & nitrates yet?

 

[Banana mouse]

Wow, I would've LOVED for my tanks to have cycled so quickly . . . my 10g took 8 wks & my 46g took 6 to complete the cycle. The 10g had nitrites for 2 weeks straight & then poof they were gone. I agree that if you're ammo is dropping in 3 days then you're way ahead of the game. Do you have nitrites & nitrates yet?

My 200L took 3 weeks to cycle then I re done it (new filter etc) and that took 3 weeks to cycle.

I'm not sure ill test for that tomorrow or Wednesday when the ammonia has fallen a little more

 

[Banana mouse]

Iv looked at this quite a lot and people say its rubbish but on all the tanks iv used a Llittle stress zym, when I say a little the bottle recommends I use 30ml or something and I use 5ml and I get these kind of results

 

[boadams87]

That's good that your starting to cycle. The carbon is a waste of money

 

[Banana mouse]

My ammonia has fallen down to 0ppm

I only use carbon because I have an aqumanta and I have a spare tray so I just throw carbon in there

 

[bud29]

You are so lucky. I started my cycle June 20th and my ammonia hit 0 for the first time on August 11th.

 

[Banana mouse]

Any ideas why I'm doing so well? I'm using liquid ammonia

 

[bud29]

I really don't know, each cycle is different.

 

[Banana mouse]

Okay iv tested my water again and here are the results:

Ammonia: 1ppm again (liquid test)

No2: just over 10ppm (strip test)

No3: just over 250ppm (strip test)

I'll go to my local fish place and I'll get it tested in a liquid test