How long does it take for a new tank to colonize with bacter

[miklordm]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I found it while searching for help in treating my ammonia problem in my new tank. This was just the information I was looking for!! I have done a %50 water change three of the last four days on top of many smaller changes over the last week or so and there is still some cloudiness. I was beginning to think it was just me. My question is how long does it usually take for a new tank to colonize with bacteria? I set up my tank about three and a half weeks ago. It was slightly cloudy from the day I set it up even though I hadn't put any fish in it. I let it sit a couple of days before putting in the fish. After about two weeks it started to look like it might be getting a little better. Then I woke up one morning and couldn't see two inches into the tank. It was awful!! I have a bio wheel filter and I vaccum the gravel when I change the water. Just like some of you I am getting impatient and would like to start adding new fish. Instead I just keep losing the few I have in there.

 

[Allivymar]

Hiya miklordm and welcome to Aquariumadvice

I gave you your own topic; your question is a bit specific and didn't want it to get missed.

It can take up to 6 weeks for a tank to be cycled with enough nitrifying bacteria. It depends on the size of the tank, the amount of fish, the type of fish and a number of other things.

What size tank, type of fish and number, ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels, temps? This info will help us help you figure out where you are in the cycle and determine why you are losing fish.

If you haven't read up on the nitrogen cycle, let me recommend this article; its well written and explains why knowing your nitrogenous waste levels is SO important to fish health (even after the tank cycles): http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

 

[Allivymar]

This post is from Linsay; she was responding in the old thread while I was moving it (sorry Lin LOL)

Welcome -mklordm
One of the things I think I was doing incorrectly is vacuuming the tank with each water change. The beneficial bacteria needs to find somewhere to settle and if you vacuum each time you are probably getting rid of the good bacteria. Be careful not to change the filter, either. I could be wrong, but I think if you don't have any fish any more making ammonia then you won't continue cycling unless you want to do a fishless cycle (do a search on this if you are interested)

I soooooo feel your pain!! I want to add more fish in the worst way but guess I will just have to be patient! Please keep posting I'd love to hear what ends up happening with your tank - and if it cycles before mine feel free to keep it to yourself (kidding)

 

[Kwenbee]

Here's my standard reply to this...listen to Allivymar. She is personally responsible for saving the lives of a guppy, four neon tetras, three blackfinned tetras, two catfish and an algae eater.

Here's what I did upon her advice:

I bought a liquid test kit (Petsmart $19.99) Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (has Doc Wellfish on the test tubes). I tested the water every single day. Me and the fishies got to be best buds cuz we were the only ones up at that time of day. I started testing in November, and when I started testing had an ammonia reading of 3.0 (Petsmart told me it was "fine" the same day...I tested it when I got home).

I then did a 25% water change...every day. I did scooch around the gravel in different areas each day. Not hard to remember where you've been...put the vac in a spot, if little or no stuff comes up...you did it the day before. Anyway, we have a 10 gallon tank. I filled a five gallon bucket up just over halfway (sometimes if I wasn't paying attention, I filled it up further). I then dumped the bucket and filled two gallon jugs with water (was using distilled water until those on this site told me I shouldn't. I just kept the last three jugs and use them over and over).

It took about three weeks for the ammonia to drop to 0. Then the nitrites rose to 2.0. I continued the daily water changes until the nitrites dropped to 0. It was my New Year's present...January 2!

It was a royal pain to do...but now I sort of miss it (except I am doing it in the 5 gallon since it's a newly setup tank). Now I do a 25% change once a week (my Thursday morning time with the guys).

Alli's advice works.

 

[Linsay]

It was a royal pain to do...but now I sort of miss it (except I am doing it in the 5 gallon since it's a newly setup tank). Now I do a 25% change once a week (my Thursday morning time with the guys).

Alli's advice works.

Delaware isn't all that far from Pennsylvania - please - let me give you my address and feel free to bond with my fish

 

[miklordm]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! This is a great site. In response to Alli's questions, I have a 55 galon tank. I started out with 2 goldfish (I know, I've read you shouldn't put goldfish in with tropical fish but I had them in my old tank before I knew any better and I never had a problem. I didn't hear it wasn't a good idea until after I had put them into this one.) I added a Rahael catfish, two swordtails, two mollies and a Bala shark all at once about 5 days later. It wasn't until two weeks after adding the last fish I had a real problem. My husband also told me that my two year old had dumped in a hefty amount of food at one point. It didn't look like all that much had been missing from the container but it still could have been quite a bit. I've lost one mollie, the catfish and the shark. My amonia levels are at 8ppm but I added amo-lock which I've learned from you all may not have been the best way to go, but as bad as my tank was I figure I would have probably lost all the fish if I didn't detoxify. I haven't added anything in the last couple of days. My nitrate leve is at 5ppm. I dont' have a nitrite test kit. I've been keeping the water temp at about 74 degrees. Kwenbee, I know what you mean about bonding with your fish. I've spent more time with them over the last couple of weeks than I have with my family. I went to a friends house yesterday morning and took the filter medium out of her established tank and put it into mine and this morning my tank was almost completely clear. Yahoo!! I had to add some fungal medicine today as one of the goldfish has fin rot. I hope I'm not making a mistake because I had to take out the carbon, but I don't want to lose any more fish. What's your take?

 

[Allivymar]

Don't worry bout the carbon Its really unneccessary unless you are removing meds or tints (like color leached from driftwood).

However, treating the entire tank for one fish. Oi. Most meds will muck up the good bacteria; keep a close eye on your water parameters (do go grab a nitrite test - you really need to know those levels cause its deadlier then ammonia!). Investing in a QT tank can be a lifesaver (trust me I know LOL); do read the article I wrote about it: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=35

Do up your temps; 74F is a bit cool for tropicals. Move it up to around 78F over a couple of days; that should be a semi-happy medium between the goldfish (who like it cooler) and the tropicals (who like it warmer). And do look into getting a new tank for that goldie; in the long term living with tropicals is not good for goldies. Besides the temps, goldfish diets should be lower in protein compared to tropicals. But goldies will eat anything and the higher protein diet of tropicals can cause digestive and swim bladder issues.

Adding your friends filter media probably automatically cycled your tank! I'll bet it has enough nitrifying bacteria to deal with the ammonia in your tank Just one caveat: ALL her fish are healthy right? Don't want to bring anything into your tank along with the filter media. And keep up with your water changes. Just because a tank is cycled doesn't mean that can stop!

Do some research before adding any more fish (cause you sure have room!); and ask us lots of questions. This way you can be sure they will all be compatible and happy.

 

[miklordm]

Thanks Alli! I set up my last tank (50 gallon) without any problems whatsoever. From day one it was crystal clear and I added fish whenever I wanted with no special precautions. I very rarely had a fish die and I watched most of them grow to double the size I bought them. I guess I had it way to easy! If anyone showed signs of illness I just dosed the tank. I figured if one had a disease the whole tank would be contaminated. I need to learn to ask before doing. I sure hope I didn't undo the progress I made by adding the established fliter media. I will deffinitely look into a QT tank! My friends fish are all healthy as far as I can tell. She's had her tank for years and as far as I know she hasn't lost any fish in quite a while. I'll keep an eye on everything. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

 

[Linsay]

. I went to a friends house yesterday morning and took the filter medium out of her established tank and put it into mine and this morning my tank was almost completely clear.

Oh, I am soooo jealous I wish I had a friend with a tank. Maybe I will start a new trend in the area. My boss already thinks I'm nuts - going to the pet store 2x a week to look at the fish
I was trying to convice the husband that we needed a larger tank so we could get angels. I don't think he is convinced.

Hope your cycling woes are almost over!!!