Cycling The 90 Gallon

[dcj38]

Well ive been cycling my 90 gallon for about 1 week now... I checked the water today and I got
2.0 Ammonia
2.0 Nitrites
10 Nitrates

How far you think i have to go now?

 

[dreworz5]

i started my 20 gallon about a week ago aswell, my reading are very similar.

im looking for the same answer.

 

[bogwood]

no fixed answer... it depends on things like your temp. (warmer helps to increase more quickly the useful bacteria you need)... tank size... filter media size etc...


my 20UKG took approx 3 weeks using the 'fishless' cycle 'add and wait' method with ammonia...

dcj38: I'm contemplating a 45G and the thought of washing all that substrate is not too pleasant!... power to your elbow with that 90...

 

[bogwood]

no fixed answer... it depends on things like your temp. (warmer helps to increase more quickly the useful bacteria you need)... tank size... filter media size etc...


my 20UKG took approx 3 weeks using the 'fishless' cycle 'add and wait' method with ammonia...

dcj38: I'm contemplating a 45G and the thought of washing all that substrate is not too pleasant!... power to your elbow with that 90...

 

[mark.w.jones]

Well ive been cycling my 90 gallon for about 1 week now... I checked the water today and I got
2.0 Ammonia
2.0 Nitrites
10 Nitrates

How far you think i have to go now?

My 10gal UK tank cycled in approx 3 weeks using the add & wait method at 75F. You obviously have some ammonia eating bacteria as they are converting some of it to nitrite but there are not enough for it to completely get rid of it all in 12 hours yet. I would guess you have hardly any nitrite eating bacteria yet and that your nitrate readings are due to levels in tapwater, gravel, plants etc. Once your ammonia is disappearing completely in 12 hours you have enough of those bacteria in your filter. Multiply the time it's taken to get that far by 2 and I reckon you'll have a rough estimate of when it will be cycled completely.

Good luck and keep patient

 

[dcj38]

got home today and checked the readings:

0.5 Ammonia
5 NitrItes
10 Nitrates

How long you guys think?

 

[dreworz5]

mine was .75 amonia
4.0 Nitrite
20 Nitrates (darn Tap to high)

looks like were on the same path. alsmost exactly. every update sounds the same. ill keep you up to date with mine. see who wins.

water temp 80 and adding adding air at times

 

[dcj38]

mine was .75 amonia
4.0 Nitrite
20 Nitrates (darn Tap to high)

looks like were on the same path. alsmost exactly. every update sounds the same. ill keep you up to date with mine. see who wins.

water temp 80 and adding adding air at times

yeah my temps at 80 also. Results today:

2.0 Nitrite
0.25 ammonia
5 Nitrate

I think i got the results wrong yesterday by putting 5.0 NitrIte, so just ignore that.

 

[dreworz5]

mine today are...

Amonia 0 (after 24 hours) tomorrow ill ahve tosee what it is after 12 hours sice I did not check in between

Nitrites 5.0+

Nitrates 15 (tap)

water temp now at 82 with air, i believe it is important to add air when going above 80

added 25 drops of ammonia today. after testing

 

[dcj38]

0.1 Ammonia
2-3 Nitrites
5 Nitrates

 

[itsmedeanna64]

I just finished fishless cycling with the add and wait method on my 55 gallon. It took 34 days. I had my temp at about 79 and had a few live plants. Right now I have 5 black skirt tetras, 9 neons and 4 albino corys in there and can't wait till its time to add a couple more!

I must say I did this 'by the book' and it was difinitely worth it! I've had no troubles at all.

 

[dcj38]

is the add and wait method the one that im doing?

 

[mark.w.jones]

is the add and wait method the one that im doing?

If you're raising your ammonia up to 3 - 4ppm every time it drops down to zero then yes. If you are adding more ammonia daily regardless of ammonia readings then I understand this to be the add daily method. Surprisingly, ammonia levels go through the roof with this method.

 

[dreworz5]

my ammonia is still 0, nitrites 5+.

I have aonly been putting my ammonia back to 1.0?? i guess this is not high ernpugh??

 

[dazcoops]

theres nothing wrong with nitrate being 15 or less.