Cycle!

[orange shark]

Hey,

I am in the process of cycling my 29 gallon. I was wondering the first time I add ammonia how long should it take to come back down to 0 without any mature filter media. I put in 5 ppm and it is now 2.5 after 48 hours. Should it be down to 0 in another 48 hours?

Thanks, orange shark

 

[backley420]

I'm not an expert but if it does its not cycled should longer and more ammonia. BUT I COULD BE WRONG!

 

[orange shark]

I'm not an expert but if it does its not cycled should longer and more ammonia. BUT I COULD BE WRONG!

I know how to cycle I just want to know how long it wil take for my first batch of ammonia to drop to 0. Sorry if I made this unclear!

orange shark

 

[doresy]

With new media I am surprised your ammonia started to drop so quickly (did you add anything else?) I thought, by experience, that ammonia started to drop only after 7-10 days

In any case, as you know how to cycle, you'll be adding ammonia to bring it up to 5ppm again as you don't really want it to go right down to zero yet

 

[rdd1952]

If it's already dropped to 2.5 in 48 hours then it should definitely be back to 0 in another 48 hours. From then on, it should be able to go through about 5 ppm in a day or so and continue to get faster. It wil probably still take another 2 weeks or so for the nitrite to dop to zero so that you are finished.

One thing I forgot to ask is whether you have any live plants. Plants will consume ammonia before it can be processed. Have you checked for nitrite yet?

 

[orange shark]

If it's already dropped to 2.5 in 48 hours then it should definitely be back to 0 in another 48 hours. From then on, it should be able to go through about 5 ppm in a day or so and continue to get faster. It wil probably still take another 2 weeks or so for the nitrite to dop to zero so that you are finished.

One thing I forgot to ask is whether you have any live plants. Plants will consume ammonia before it can be processed. Have you checked for nitrite yet?

I just got some live plants last night and its not showing any nitrites, is that odd?

 

[Tiger Barb]

I would imagine that the lack of any nitrites shows that your filter has not yet grown the bacteria which turn ammonia into nitrite. Hence the drop in your ammonia level must be due to the plants.

During my fishless cycle, ammonia started to drop on Day 19. So I think 48 hours is a wee bit early.... but it would be nice if your filter cycled that quickly, wouldn't it?

 

[orange shark]

I would imagine that the lack of any nitrites shows that your filter has not yet grown the bacteria which turn ammonia into nitrite. Hence the drop in your ammonia level must be due to the plants.

During my fishless cycle, ammonia started to drop on Day 19. So I think 48 hours is a wee bit early.... but it would be nice if your filter cycled that quickly, wouldn't it?

Itd be great if filters cycled that quick!