how do you know when your tank is cycled?

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Slim2634

Slim2634

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 8, 2006
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i am getting a new tank and i havent really heard much about the whole cycling thing. how long would it take for a 50-55 gallon tank to cycle? how would i be able to tell if my tank is cycled? i want to put a breeding pair or trio of cichlids not sure which kind yet though. my friend told me about an electric blue fish with bumps on there heads that are awesome!
 
test it everyday
when the ammonia spikes up.. then goes back down to zero.. it should be good:thumbsup:
 
fishnthings said:
test it everyday
when the ammonia spikes up.. then goes back down to zero.. it should be good:thumbsup:
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I agree. Or you can tell it's done when your new fish stop dying. LOL
 
Hey if you would like some Green Terrors, I should have plenty of them here shortly. If I were you and starting from scratch, I would buy about 6-10 Zebra danios and feed them heavily to start the cycling process. I think it generally takes about 10 days for ammonia to spike and then get back to zero, then you'll have a nitirte spike and it takes a while for nitrite to get to zero. You can probably introduce the fish that you actually want to keep withing a couple weeks, just have a product called prime on hand, and dose your tank if your nitirite gets out of hand. If you're in the market for some GT's get a hold of me, I'm in Cbus as well....
 
Ok
Nitrogen Cycling involves much more than just ammonia... It goes from ammonia to nitrites (which are equally as toxic) to nitrates. So after all three bacterias' have spiked... then your tank will be cycled. Feeding less, and doing more small partial water changes will aid in the cycling time.
:clap
 
Elasmofreak said:
Ok
Nitrogen Cycling involves much more than just ammonia... It goes from ammonia to nitrites (which are equally as toxic) to nitrates. So after all three bacterias' have spiked... then your tank will be cycled. Feeding less, and doing more small partial water changes will aid in the cycling time.
:clap
Click to expand...


Well aware, I've done this by buying Danio's and feeding heavy, to really get the filters seeded quickly, water changes intially only prolong the process. If you add fish you want to keep, then frequent water changes are a must in order to keep them alive. A full cycle from scratch takes minimum of 30 days up to 40.....
 
brownsfan2634 said:
i am getting a new tank and i havent really heard much about the whole cycling thing. how long would it take for a 50-55 gallon tank to cycle? how would i be able to tell if my tank is cycled? i want to put a breeding pair or trio of cichlids not sure which kind yet though. my friend told me about an electric blue fish with bumps on there heads that are awesome!
Click to expand...

I'm guessing when you say Electric Blue, perhaps you're talking about Electric Blue Jack Dempsey's?? I would definitley steer clear of these guys for you first fish, they are expensive, and very sensitive to their environments.....Go with Regular Jack's or as I mentioned in a prior post, I'll have plenty of Green Terror's. I have 2 I need to unload that are a little over 2"s and starting to show some nice color and are in perfect condition, I would be glad to make a deal with you on them....
 
thatonegirl said:
When you're nitrItes spike and then drop you're cycled. Do a water change and add your stock.
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I just toss them in. If nitro gets to high, then they should just WALK IT OFF! Be a true monster, damn wussy fish. LOL
 
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