Cycling Questions

[ssjas]

Just wanted to know roughly how long to wait for my tank to cycle.

It is a 6x2x2ft tank with a 3ft sump with bioballs. For about 3 weeks now I have had a few yabbies, a few shrimp and a few random little fish that got caught in my shrimp net, in the tank to try and start the cycle. I have also placed some gravel from my existing tank in there.

I know you can tell when there is an ammonia spike or something, but am still a little confused about it all.

Thanks

 

[Dixon81]

Buy some test kits

 

[andres]

It really depends on alot.. The stuff you put in there should help the cycle. If you can, bring a water sample to the LFS and have them test it for you. Hopefully they use a nice test kit, because the cheap strip test kits are very inaccurate.

 

[ssjas]

So is there a test kit to see if it has already cycled?

 

[ITHURTZ]

ya a regular liquid test kit

ammo 0
nitrate0
nitrate whatever

 

[V1xIII]

You want your ammonia to be 0, NitrITE to be 0, and for NitrATE to be showing up. It will take at least a few weeks.

 

[ITHURTZ]

oops edit my post nitrite 0

 

[crowconor]

nuy an api test kit they work good and arent to expensive

 

[crowconor]

buy an api test kit

 

[ssjas]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I only have a ph and ammonia test kit. So looks like I need to get a couple more. Can't wait til its done.