How This Going....

[Jayladd]

Hello,

So I've been cycling my tank since Wednesday. Fluttermoth was really kind and gave me some mature media.

Put ammonia in the tank last night, just tested the water and this is how its going so far: (hope the pic works)

How do you think its going?

How far off do you think I am from being cycled?

 

[doresy]

Several weeks......seriously!

You do have a fair bit of nitrite present which means the ammonia is being processed which is very good

The nitrite testing purple will go solid colour (known as the 'nitrite spike') before backing off to an eventual 'sky blue'

 

[-Jo-]

it will take a while. Im on day 21 and my nitrites havent dropped at all yet. Ive got a few weeks still to go!!

 

[Jayladd]

Still several weeks? #41####! I though it would of only been just over a week or something ha I do have NITRATES forming now though which is good. Looks between 0 - 5ppm.

 

[Tizer]

it could take just over a week using mature media, most of the filters i attempt to seed take around 10 days to adjust/kick in, if i max a filter out with mature media and dump it into life, i still test for a couple of days after and i never expect and instant cycle.

 

[doresy]

Time will tell, yes mature media does help but some people do get a bit carried away with it's capabilities (it's not a mirical worker!)

You have a lot more nitrites to come and the bacteria that processes it takes much longer to form than the ones that process ammonia.

However, every cycle is unique for reasons unknown, for instance, I have cycled a 240lt in 6 weeks yet a 27lt once took me a lengthy 24 weeks to complete !!!

Stick with it whatever as it will be worth it in the end.