How Long Left...?

[MikeO]

| am now on day 22 of my fishless cycle. 5ppm ammonia is being processed in 12 hrs and nitrites are at 0 at the 24hr point and 1.6 at 12 hour point.

Any ideas as to when i will be fully cycled?

Also will there be any effect on the cycle by adding an additional external filter to work at the same time as the internal and also changing the gravel substrate for live sand, or will the bacteria in the filter media just take care of it all?

Cheers

 

[waterdrop]

I believe "live sand" is just for marine tanks. For a freshwater tank its not a problem to add in another filter during the fishless cycle. Its good to understand that your total set of bacterial colonies will eventually equalize between the two filters, so taking one away would be too large a removal as it would halve your bacteria.

A 30 day cycle (you're getting close) is a very short fishless cycle, so you should count yourself very lucky if this happens. For many, 60 to 80 days is what they have to wait out.

You sound to be in the third phase of fishless cycling (after the nitrite spike) and the typical "sticking" pattern that slows this stage down is where one or the other of nitrite(NO2) (usually) or ammonia (sometimes) will just stall out for a long time showing a little left at the 12 hour test. This is quite normal and eventually after you wait it out it just suddenly displays double-zeros one day much to your relief!

In the third phase its also good to keep a close eye on your pH and be a little more frequent (once a week say) about testing Nitrate(NO3) so you know how high it seems to be building up with all that ammonia going in.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[MikeO]

The sand is made for cichlid tanks, which is why I am getting it. Dont know how accurate the claims are, but its meant to contain beneficial bacteria and raise pH.

Fingers crossed I will be ready in a couple of weeks then!