Cycling a ten gallon tank

[Newfishownee]

Hello. Newbie to cycling a tank. I have a ten gallon tank I just set up and started cycling last weekend. Ammonia (Dr.Tims) is currently at 4.0 Nittrites & Nitrates zero. What is the next step? Do I do nothing and wait until I see ammonia start to drop and then start to see nitrites. How long will this take to cycle? I have a heater and an air bubble for my tank. I’m using prime and stability

 

[ZxC]

Hello. Newbie to cycling a tank. I have a ten gallon tank I just set up and started cycling last weekend.

Ammonia (Dr.Tims) is currently at 4.0 Nittrites & Nitrates zero.
That is normal at the start of a cycle

What is the next step?
Nothing, wait for nitrites to show up, keep ammonia 2-4ppm. You can raise temp to 80-85 degrees to help bacteria colonize

Do I do nothing and wait until I see ammonia start to drop and then start to see nitrites.
Basically yes

How long will this take to cycle?
1 day - 3 months. You'll be 3-4 weeks I'm guessing

I have a heater and an air bubble for my tank. I’m using prime and stability
No filter? Just a bubble? without surface area for bacteria to grow, you will create a very weak cycle.

Answered in bold

 

[Newfishownee]

Cycling a tabk

Yes I have a filter and an air bubbler in my tank and a heater , it’s currently at 82*

 

[ZxC]

Yes I have a filter and an air bubbler in my tank and a heater , it’s currently at 82*

Then it's time to wait it out

 

[Newfishownee]

Isn’t that the truth! That’s why I’m here because it’s not easy especially for newbies. Soo do not need to add any more ammonia for now and just wait it out until I start to see nitrites. If ammonia does drop to 0.25 or 0.50 do I need or add more ammonia?

 

[ZxC]

Isn’t that the truth! That’s why I’m here because it’s not easy especially for newbies. Soo do not need to add any more ammonia for now and just wait it out until I start to see nitrites. If ammonia does drop to 0.25 or 0.50 do I need or add more ammonia?

Yes.

Keep ammonia 2ppm or around there.
Wait for nitrites to show up.
Keep ammonia around 2ppm.
Don't let nitrites build up too high -- Water change them down.
Dose ammonia up again after water changes.
Wait for nitrates.
Wait for nitrites to bottom out.

If the tank can consume 2ppm of ammonia into 0 nitrites and a bunch of nitrates within 24 hours then you are cycled.

 

[Newfishownee]

Cycling my tank

Ok thankyou! So how much water change do I do if the nitrites get to high and what is consider high? I do have the API test kit

 

[ZxC]

Ok thankyou! So how much water change do I do if the nitrites get to high and what is consider high? I do have the API test kit

I'm not sure exact numbers, I've never cycled a tank before

But, I would guess 0.5ppm-1.0ppm is a good number.


How much water to change depends on the level.

If it's 10ppm then you would have to do 2 x 50% water changes (10ppm - 5ppm - 2.5ppm)

Or larger if you can, 75% water change for example.

 

[Newfishownee]

Cycling a tank

Wow a 75% water change?!! Wont that kill my cycle?

 

[ZxC]

Wow a 75% water change?!! Wont that kill my cycle?

How could it?

You reduce NO2 to safe levels and dose NH4 back to correct cycling levels?

 

[Newfishownee]

Cycling my tank

Wait you said you’ve never cycled a tank before but your giving a newbie advise?

 

[ZxC]

Wait you said you’ve never cycled a tank before but your giving a newbie advise?

Precisely yes.

I've always performed silent cycles, but I've helped dozens of newbies perform conventional cycles

Water changes are needed. They do not slow a cycle because you dose ammonia back up to proper levels.

 

[Newfishownee]

Cycling my tank

Ok Thankyou for your help! So I will do nothing for now and wait for the ammonia to drop and then see if nitrites appear. If nitrites get to high then I will do a water change and dose ammonia again.

 

[King Fisher]

I'll add that you shouldn't let nitrites get above 5ppm. If they hit 5 or above start your water changes. As Z pointed out.....if say you remove 50% of 5ppm you have 2.5ppm. That goes for ammonia and nitrates as well.

Also, beneficial bacteria is nearly non existent in the water column. It grows on everything else including the inside walls of the tank. So don't get hung up on the amount of water you are changing. There is some arguments that if you do a 50% water change or more you should wait around 4 to 6 hours, heard both these times, before you do your next water change.