How long does it take for a bio wheel to grow a healthy coat of beneficial bacteria?

Answer 1

probably 1-3 weeks please pick me for best answer ive never been your my sister

Answer 2

It'll take 1~4 weeks. There are a few factor that can effect that.

A tank thats warmer tends to be faster whereas a cold tank tends to take a bit longer.

Then there is the need to provide the initial ammonia source, that means that you can't cycle the tank (growing bacterial) with just water. You need to provide the food for the bacterial which is ammonia. You either use a chemical source or natural source which is droping in one or two fishes.

Anyway, assuming the tank already has ammonia source, the first day you drop your bio-wheel into the tank, it'll start having bacterial but at a very low count (especially if the tank is new), it just that it'll take weeks for the bacterial to grow to a large enough number on the wheel to make an impact on the water. Thats why, if you can take some bio-media from an established and healthy tank to "seed" your tank, you start of will more bacterial in your tank therefore the process becomes faster.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I do a fishless cycle to grow bacteria on my new set ups. It can take from 2-6 weeks depending on tank temp and other factors. You need a source of ammonia, I used straight household ammonia (only a couple of teaspoons on the 20gallon I'm currently cycling). I get the ammonia level to 5ppm then add BioSpira or Stability. I also throw in old gravel (from my other tank) and an old filter (also from my other tank). The ammonia will drop and the nitrites will spike. Add a little ammonia to keep feeding the bacteria. When your nitrites go to zero, your tank is cycled and you should do a large water change, then you can add your fish safely. Good luck.

Answer 4

Any time i start up a new tank with new equipments or a old tank that has been standing (without water) i will go and buy couple gold fish and keep them for a month, and that should be enough time for the bacteria colony to grow, and after im done with the gold fish i will either take them back to the pet store and pick up new fish or give them to my neighbor for his pond. I find it the best way to do because its all natural, and you can keep an eye on the fish for any toxic effects. It only works if you are keeping the same type of fish. Goldfish to freshwater, not salt water!

Answer 5

It takes a couple of weeks. You can test if it has grown a sufficent amount by testing you ammonia levels. I wouldnt suggest getting any fish until you have low levels of ammonia. There are ways to cheat the couple of weeks. You can get products that contain live bateria. The one Ive used in the past is called bio sphera or something close to that. Good luck..