Cycling tank....

[discusaquarium]

Ok guys, i've been cycling this tank for almost three weeks now, and the nitrItes havent dropped yet. filtering through a used filter pad and aged water from my 55 which has perfect water qualities. is there anything im doing wrong?!?

 

[dork187]

i think that 3 weeks isnt quite enough time
give it another week
and then if you still havent seen any changes you might have a problem
ive always operated under the assumption that it took at least a month to complete a cycle

 

[fishboy]

I have heard it takes 36 Days to cycle



Joe may i ask how big this tank is ???

 

[JWright]

Cycling can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple months, depending on the stocking and seding amounts. More fish=longer cycle. More seed material=shorter cycle.

Josh

 

[discusaquarium]

the tank is a 20 gallon long. my 55 only took 2 weeks to cycle, this is taking forever!! there are no fish in the tank.

 

[Matt Nace]

Think of perfect water for fish...0 NitrItes and 0 ammonia maybe some nitrAtes.

The aged water wont supply your filter with ammonia or any real bacteria that will seed your filter. You need ammonia for a source of food then and to seed you need the bacteria from gravel, tank decoration Filter material, a filter, ect.. from another established tank.

 

[discusaquarium]

matt, i am using filter media from an established tank and there is some java moss in there from my 55. thats why im wondering whats going on....

 

[clothahump]

You still need to feed the bacteria or your filter will die.
Small quantaties of food every day will do it, or as a lot of the older members will remember: Pee in your tank every day. 8)

 

[Matt Nace]

lol

 

[JWright]

Ahhh...yes, a perrenial favorite, urine.

Alas, most forget that it's not ammonia that we excrete, rather Urea, a converter form of ammonia.

Josh

 

[discusaquarium]

ewwwwww!! seriously?!

 

[fishboy]

Yep He said it somewhere else but...............i think it is in the begginner section