How long are you supposed to cycle a tank, before adding fish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

lasvegasnights21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2008
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Wilmington, NC
How long are you supposed to cycle a tank, before adding fish? It will be a 26 gallon bowfront, and I have decided to make it a community aquarium. Please explain the cycle also, if possible.
 
Cycling a tank refers to the nitrogen cycle. There is no set time limit. It depends on the size of the tank, water parameters, type of cycle you are doing etc. Do a search of cycling on this site and the web to research what you should be doing.
 
Its a long process so try using the search function there are plenty of articles on it online also.

If you have an already mature tank or access to one you can use some media to "seed" yours and make the process much faster.

There are alot of bacterial colonizers packaged for aquarium use out there too, their use is debatable but I think they help.
 
how long? Until its finished. :)

once the ammonia and nitrite tests zero, you are done. Ammonia should start to rise first, then nitrite.

If you already have a tank setup though, just use media from it.
 
Mine took about4 weeks with a bag of that bacteria and some bio matterail. most people say it takes about 6 weeks.. i guess it realy just depends just do alot of checking once nitrate are down your done but takes wile for them to go up because of the cycle dosnt start there.. good luck have fun with the new tank
 
I usually have big tanks....When cycling, I throw in a dozen or so Large Goldfish.....I also run a filter from another tank to help with boost....
 
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