I've spent our pouring over threads here, as well as following this guide: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...e-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283-176.html
So far the information and support seems to be excellent here, therefore i wanted to ask a question...
I've several posts about cycling going very slow and some about it being fast or wildly inconsistent.
My question is, I started cycling my 29 gal aquarium around the 24th of July and as of the past two days it appears to be completed, that seems fast from what I've been reading?
Here is my setup:
29-gal tank
Aqua-Tech Power Aquarium Filter 30-60 filter (New filters)
60# Eco-Complete Substrate
a few rocks and one piece of very old driftwood (All boiled for a long time)
I went to the LFS and told them i was setting up a new tank and they gave me these to start:
API STRESS ZYME
API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT
Dechorlinator (forgot the brand but it's a tiny bottle, 1 drop per/gal)
I got no readings for the first 4-5 days, then after researching a lot I found this forum and a few other resources and realized I needed Ammonia, which makes me believe the LFS person thought I was going to do a Fish-in cycle..
After going to the dollar store i bought pure ammonia (doesn't bubble at all when shaken) and began dosing up to 4ppm. Also noted the pH was extremely high 8.4.
(Last week) Gradually the Nitrites appeared as the ammonia started falling as expected, then the nitrites were off the scale of the test chart after being away for 4 days. Then the Nitrates started rising slowly to 5-10ppm
Then these past few days the Ammonia has been zero within 12 hours and now the nitrites are also 0ppm. After consistently dosing for the past 3 days I am still getting the same results ammonia 0ppm and nitrites 0ppm and now the nitrates are slowly moving up to 10-20ppm. Now each time I dose with Ammonia it only takes about 12 hours. Also, the pH has gone down gradually to 7.4ppm.
Everything appears to have happened exactly as every guide explains, however, I've done no water changes or anything other than dosing the ammonia and I added more API STRESS ZYME for bacteria as I feared the nitrates were moving slowly due to lack of bacteria.
I plan to keep dosing with ammonia but is it possible to cyle in less than 3 weeks?
So far the information and support seems to be excellent here, therefore i wanted to ask a question...
I've several posts about cycling going very slow and some about it being fast or wildly inconsistent.
My question is, I started cycling my 29 gal aquarium around the 24th of July and as of the past two days it appears to be completed, that seems fast from what I've been reading?
Here is my setup:
29-gal tank
Aqua-Tech Power Aquarium Filter 30-60 filter (New filters)
60# Eco-Complete Substrate
a few rocks and one piece of very old driftwood (All boiled for a long time)
I went to the LFS and told them i was setting up a new tank and they gave me these to start:
API STRESS ZYME
API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT
Dechorlinator (forgot the brand but it's a tiny bottle, 1 drop per/gal)
I got no readings for the first 4-5 days, then after researching a lot I found this forum and a few other resources and realized I needed Ammonia, which makes me believe the LFS person thought I was going to do a Fish-in cycle..
After going to the dollar store i bought pure ammonia (doesn't bubble at all when shaken) and began dosing up to 4ppm. Also noted the pH was extremely high 8.4.
(Last week) Gradually the Nitrites appeared as the ammonia started falling as expected, then the nitrites were off the scale of the test chart after being away for 4 days. Then the Nitrates started rising slowly to 5-10ppm
Then these past few days the Ammonia has been zero within 12 hours and now the nitrites are also 0ppm. After consistently dosing for the past 3 days I am still getting the same results ammonia 0ppm and nitrites 0ppm and now the nitrates are slowly moving up to 10-20ppm. Now each time I dose with Ammonia it only takes about 12 hours. Also, the pH has gone down gradually to 7.4ppm.
Everything appears to have happened exactly as every guide explains, however, I've done no water changes or anything other than dosing the ammonia and I added more API STRESS ZYME for bacteria as I feared the nitrates were moving slowly due to lack of bacteria.
I plan to keep dosing with ammonia but is it possible to cyle in less than 3 weeks?