How Long For Cycle With Fish?

[bgormley]

Hi guys
I am about 2 weeks into cycling my 71ltr tank with 5 zebra danios. I change 20% of the water every 2 days and for the last 4 days my amm is 1 and nitrite 1. Do you have any idea how long it could take to fully cycle? Thanks guys!

 

[Ogrt48]

Hi guys
I am about 2 weeks into cycling my 71ltr tank with 5 zebra danios. I change 20% of the water every 2 days and for the last 4 days my amm is 1 and nitrite 1. Do you have any idea how long it could take to fully cycle? Thanks guys!

I'm not sure how long it will take but changing water while doing a cycle just makes it take longer.

 

[Kombat]

It took my 29USG tank 2 1/2 weeks to cycle with 5 white clouds and a betta.

Karl

 

[docbanzai]

Hi guys
I am about 2 weeks into cycling my 71ltr tank with 5 zebra danios. I change 20% of the water every 2 days and for the last 4 days my amm is 1 and nitrite 1. Do you have any idea how long it could take to fully cycle? Thanks guys!

Hi,
You're changing your water too much IMHO. If you're happy to do water changes that much then I would suggest no more than 10%. When cycling with fish then you must realise that you are going to potentially lose some of them. Expect Amm to rise and fall quite randomly for a short while. Any NitrAte readings yet (excluding those you may get from your tap water)? As this can be a good sign... But you have to give your 'friendly' bacteria a chance to establish themselves properly.

*Update* I suggest reading this completely...

My very first tank took the best part of 3 months to stabilise, though that's just my own experience, and I did not have a good source of seed bacteria. I'm lucky that I have a naturally low pH. It limits some of my stocking choices, but it does help control the toxicity of ammonia(um).

Good luck, hope that all works out OK for you.

 

[Phoenixfish]

my 4.5 took only 2 1/2 weeks to cycle, with the help of bactzym (not really worth it tho) with 1 bronze cory and 2 AT barbs, but mine is a small tank so thats why

 

[dwarfgourami]

You're changing your water too much IMHO. If you're happy to do water changes that much then I would suggest no more than 10%. When cycling with fish then you must realise that you are going to potentially lose some of them

It is not proved that water changes do slow down the cycle. But even if they do- wouldn't you rather slow it down and keep your fish alive? Where is the point of accepting that you are going to potentially lose fish, if these is a method (water changes) that may keep them alive? Don't see it myself, really.

 

[Ogrt48]

You're changing your water too much IMHO. If you're happy to do water changes that much then I would suggest no more than 10%. When cycling with fish then you must realise that you are going to potentially lose some of them

It is not proved that water changes do slow down the cycle. But even if they do- wouldn't you rather slow it down and keep your fish alive? Where is the point of accepting that you are going to potentially lose fish, if these is a method (water changes) that may keep them alive? Don't see it myself, really.

It's just common sense it would slow it down really. Also you shouldn't be cycling a tank with fish in it in the first place so keeping them alive really shouldn't be an issue. Cycle the right way and you won't have to worry about them dying.

 

[phlawed]

It's just common sense it would slow it down really. Also you shouldn't be cycling a tank with fish in it in the first place so keeping them alive really shouldn't be an issue. Cycle the right way and you won't have to worry about them dying.

blah, post was not asking for critisism but for help. I agree with the 10% water changes until it starts leveling off. If you know anyone with a good cycled tank you might ask to have a small cupfull of some of their substrate as this can help with some of the benificial bacteria. Just keep a close eye on the fish. If you see one starting to get something then treat accordingly.

 

[bgormley]

I'm quite happy to keep up with the regular water changes, that's not a problem in fact i really enjoy it!

I'm a complete newbie to this but the fish seem happy and active, and it's teaching my 6 and 4 year old a bit of chemistry!

I haven't yet tested my tap water but my last readings were Amm 1 Nitrite 1 and nitrate 40+


blah, post was not asking for critisism but for help. I agree with the 10% water changes until it starts leveling off. If you know anyone with a good cycled tank you might ask to have a small cupfull of some of their substrate as this can help with some of the benificial bacteria. Just keep a close eye on the fish. If you see one starting to get something then treat accordingly.
[/quote]

Thanks phlawed, i knew i would get some criticism for cycling with fish, but i deliberately went for the bare minimum of fish that would be happy together instead of bunging in a load of fish. The reason i am cycling with fish is that most people i've spoken off-forum have done it this way for years and as a newbie i took their advice.

 

[docbanzai]

Hi widgetgirl,

I apologise if my post seemed critical ) It was certainly not my intention to sound like I was judging you! I felt that the water changes were a little too much a little too often for two reasons;
1. Although water changes are a critical part of fishkeeping, it can cause stress to the fish if done too often (although in my experience some fishies love it and others hate it )
2. When cycling with fish, my personal preferance would be for the cycle to happen as quickly as possible. Yes this can leads to losses (although I've been very lucky and have NEVER lost a fish when cycling) but I'd rather it wasn't a long drawn out process which, again, leads to prolonged suffering of the fishes.

My preferance now is to use the fishless method, but in the past I have always cycled with fish, as this technique didn't exist when I first started the hobby.

These are only my opinions gathered from past experience. I try not to get involved in cycling method debates as I believe that, when all's said and done, it's down to the owner to decide how they're going to do things.

Good luck and all the best,

DB.

 

[bgormley]

hI dOC bANZAI, THANKS FOR THAT. I didn't think that you were judging me , I think it was ogrt48 whom Phlawed was referring to. When i'm a few years down the line maybe i'll be doing things differently....!! Thanks for the advice