Bacteria Multiplication

[kevinjames]

how long does our benificial bacteria take to multiply and colonize?

I've just set up a new aquarium with a lot of mature filter media and I've been getting the same .25ppm ammonia reading all week. When will the bacteria multiply for my current stock?

 

[anon02]

Are you feeding the colony ?

 

[ZoddyZod]

I read somewhere that it can double within 24hrs. However, would be good to understand the size of your tank, current stocking and the filter model plus flow rate to better assess why the ammonia isn't disappearing.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I dunno, I seeded my little tank with media from my bigger one and it's still cycling 8 weeks later!

 

[SlyPolak]

maybe you skocked the bacteria with a rapid swing of stats ?? Ph, etc.?

you know if you dont feed the bacteria it will just die off right?

 

[kevinjames]

500 litre tank, fluval fx5, mature media from a matured 240litre filter and moderate stock of severum, 2 parrots, sailfin plec, frontosa and a few more fishes. .25ppm everyday since sunday with two 30% waterchanges tuesday and today. dont have stats today because aint tested yet. water cant be too bad because my two bristlenose plecs have bred and layed eggs.

 

[Bignose]

24 hrs is a decent rule of thumb that is close enough in most cases. At higher tropical temperatures, it is probably closer to 19 or 20 hours. At cooler temperatures, it maybe as low as 26 or even 30 hours. There is a lot of variability for fish tanks. So, in the end, 24 hours is close enough. It certainly is a slow one compared to most bacteria -- the average bacteria doubles usually in a matter of an hour or two.

This thread I posted a while back may be of interest: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/226664-why-water-changes-during-cycling-are-good/ I match a computer model to experimental results.