Can A Cycle Establish Too Fast?

[mr_rix]

....Firstly thanks for all the info that is available on the site, it has been most helpful, but I have a few more questions!

I am currently cycling a 50l tank for my daughters b'day in febuary, after reading all the info on this site I started early, expecting a long drawn out cycle. The tank is a freebie from a friend who was upgrading theirs, and came with a light + filter (I've bought a heater to go with it) the filter was out of water for 2 days but did stay moist. I put it in as was, and setup the tank on Sat and added ammonia on Sun.

Testing with API freshwater master kit after 3 days into the cycle and I have nitrite of 1ppm ! Ammonia has dropped to 2-4ppm. Problem is I'm not going to be stocking the tank untill the first weekend of Feb. How do I keep all the bacteria going without the fish? Also I bought some fake stone polystyrene background to put in, without thinking about it floating away! Can I secure it somehow?

Cheers in advance

Edit - Just read thread involving 3-d backgrounds looks like I'd have to drain it to fit one nice!

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Mr Rix. It is easy to keep the bacteria going, just feed them ammonia as if you were in a fishless cycle.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup just keep adding 5ppm of ammonia every day and the bacteria will be alive, healthy and good and strong by the time you're ready to add fish.

 

[Schmill]

Yup, just dose every day (if the ammonia is dropping to 0 in 24hrs) and keep doing your tests to make sure that it's going away, then before you get the fish do a BIG water change, and all should be well

My tank finished it's cycle around Christmas, but as I needed to mail-order my fish & plants I've been dosing ammonia every day since then to keep the bacteria going - lol
Fish due this week though so the end is finally in sight!