how long before I see nitrite?

[adamsfishes]

Hi,

I've been cycling a tank, used Dr Tim's One and Only, was wondering how long until I should expect to see nitrite. It's a 125 with a big wet/dry sump.

Current parameters are 1ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate. It's been 4-5 days.

It's been a long time since I cycled a new tank and I don't remember how long it took to see nitrite.

Thanks,
-Adam

 

[Angelphish]

Hi,

I've been cycling a tank, used Dr Tim's One and Only, was wondering how long until I should expect to see nitrite. It's a 125 with a big wet/dry sump.

Current parameters are 1ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate. It's been 4-5 days.

It's been a long time since I cycled a new tank and I don't remember how long it took to see nitrite.

Thanks,
-Adam

You need more ammonia. I use 3-4ppm to cycle my tanks and 2ppm each day to keep them alive. When I cycled my 210 I saw nitrites within the next day after adding minnows to create ammonia, although I did use a mix of 3 different brands of bacteria. I'd say that once you get the ammonia up to 3-4ppm you should see nitrites within a few days. Your tank is cycled once it can convert 2-3ppm of ammonia to nitrate in 24 hours.

 

[JK47]

Adam,

Are you doing a fishless cycle? You can easily have the tank cycled in a few days naturally. Go to the LFS and ask them to wring out a sponge filter into a bag of tank water. Pour that in the tank when you get home and you will have nitrite and then nitrate within a couple days depending upon the available food source (ammonia) being added. If you are using live fish to cycle it is even more important to do this.

If you have a UV filter/sterilizer make sure and turn it off until you are fully cycled. I have no experience with Dr Tims but have used Stability by Seachem to cycle tanks quickly. A well squeezed sponge filter is the fastest and most economic means to cycle a tank quickly.

 

[adamsfishes]

Thanks for the replies. I'm cycling fishless. I'm going to be ordering fish online, so it won't be practical to add them slowly. I'll be adding twelve 1.5" juvenile fish all at once, so I want it fully cycled first.

I'll up the ammonia level, and I'll stop by the local fish store and get either some sponge water (if available) or another brand of bacteria. I definitely would like a quick cycle. I thought I would see nitrite by now.

 

[Angelphish]

Thanks for the replies. I'm cycling fishless. I'm going to be ordering fish online, so it won't be practical to add them slowly. I'll be adding twelve 1.5" juvenile fish all at once, so I want it fully cycled first.

I'll up the ammonia level, and I'll stop by the local fish store and get either some sponge water (if available) or another brand of bacteria. I definitely would like a quick cycle. I thought I would see nitrite by now.

I used Dr. Tim's one and only bottled ammonia to keep a colony of bacteria alive in my 20g for a breeder pair of Angelfish I bought a couple weeks ago. I added 2ppm per day until the bacteria ate it in less than 24 hours. They started laying eggs as I began typing. Knowing they decided to breed and from nitrate tests, I know the tank is cycled.

 

[adamsfishes]

Also, should I dump the bacteria into the aquarium water or onto the filter media? I had two bottles and dumped one in each place.

 

[adamsfishes]

I'm also using Dr Tim's Ammonium Chloride.