Longest Fish-in Cycle That You've Experienced.

[ZoddyZod]

afternoon all,

I'm now in my tenth week of a fish-in cycle. Still getting gradual ammonia increases, no sign of nitrite and no rise in nitrates.

Has anyone experienced or heard of it taking longer than this?

If yes, then I'm happy to put myself in the unlucky camp and just wait it out.

If no, then I'll try to pick through what I'm doing with a fine toothed comb to see where I am potentially going wrong (although I think I've thought of everything and already got some great advice from here).

cheers!

 

[bob9009]

Wow! 10 weeks is a long time to still be waiting for nitrite and nitrate.

If it was me, I'd be so frustrated I'd get a second tank and do a fishless cycle on it.

Have you added any mature media?

 

[ZoddyZod]

Have you added any mature media?

I have, but only 2 x 1" pieces of sponge. Cant fit anymore in the filter (Fluval U3)

 

[Ginga@139]

Hi there i started my cycle on 10th july
had no joy for ages and ages

then the whole thing came together in about 4 day from nitrites of scale to O
first O result was Staurday 29th August

so hang in there
Ginga

 

[ellena]

Yep, 2 tanks at 12 weeks and counting. I've had nitrites, then none, no ammonia then loads. All over the place. Then my tank which took 18 weeks to fishless cycle has decided to die on me after the fish have been in for 2 weeks and ammonia is up in there too. The unlucky camp is not a fun place to be. If your combing reveals anything, please share

 

[ZoddyZod]

Yep, 2 tanks at 12 weeks and counting.

ahhh well that makes me feel a little better (sorry! ), at least it's not completely unheard of.

 

[OldMan47]

I can definitely beat 10 weeks. A few weeks ago I set up a new tank with an uncycled filter and fish and had a fully cycled filter in 3 days. That beats the heck out of 10 weeks and still struggling. I did jump start mine by cleaning a mature filter in the tank though.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I can definitely beat 10 weeks. A few weeks ago I set up a new tank with an uncycled filter and fish and had a fully cycled filter in 3 days.

wtih no mature media or any other help?

 

[OldMan47]

You need to read the whole post. I have never done a fishless cycle without help. It was invented after I already had some fish.

 

[Harlequins]

My original fish in was cycled by week 7