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picsels
Lv 4
picsels asked in PetsFish · 1 decade ago

how long do you think my 40g tank has to cycle?

here are the last 3 days results:

26/07/2008 1.00 2.00 7.50

27/07/2008 1.00 2.00 10.00

28/07/2008 1.00 2.00 15.00

Update:

it's clear and a nice amber colour like natural environment

Update 2:

are you talking 1 week to finish cycling, or 40 weeks for a 40g tank lol

Update 3:

btw we are talking ammonia/nitrites/nitrates of course

Update 4:

thanks jennifer, it has been about 5 weeks now :)

Update 5:

tonight my ammonia is 1, and my nitrites have gone down to 0.25, and nitrates are at 15.00.

I have topped the tank up (only about 1 inch in total in the last 2 nights) with Seachem Prime, which detoxifies Ammonia.

I am using the API freshwater master test kit, I have read that because Prime doesn't remove ammonia and only detoxifies it, that I should still get accurate reading. Guess I should get the LFS to check my readings :)

Update 6:

tonight my ammonia is still at 1, my nitrites are 0, and my nitrates are 15

do you think the prime has given me a false ammonia reading?

4 Answers

Relevance
  • PvtStorm
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    I've been out of fish so long, I don't remember what all those numbers are!

    When you first set up a tank, your ammonia and nitrite levels will begin to rise. They will continue to do so until the biological filter kicks in. When it does, the ammonia and nitrite levels will drop. The process usually takes about 30 days, depending on how many fish you have and the size of the tank. I've never seen it take longer than six weeks. You know your tank has cycled when the ammonia and nitrite levels drop down to zero, or close to it. As long as they are still climbing, your tank hasn't cycled yet. You have a 40 gallon, so I'm hoping you have at least six fish and no more than ten. You'll be able to get more fish once the tank cycles. Good luck to you!

  • Jennifer
    1 decade ago

    There is no exact way to know when your tank will be done, but to fully cycle most tanks need weeks- depending on how you started the cycle.

    The full cycle:

    -Ammonia levels rise and peak

    begin to drop off

    -Nitrite levels rise and peak

    begin to drop off

    -Nitrate is now present; ammonia and nitrite read at 0.

  • Ramil Dy
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    one week just to make the filter mature.

    since its been 5 weeks then you got no problem with your tank unless your overpopulated and now water change yet ever since.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    every gal must be a weeek

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