How long does it take to cycle a 10 gallon tank?

Question

How long doe it take to cycle a 10 gallon tank? How can you tell when it is cycled? Is there anything else I can do to quicken it up?

- Ihad my tank for about three months but lots of thing happened for example fish got sick and high ammonia. But, now everything is calm. Could it still continue with all those time?

Answer 1

A Short Brief on the Nitrogen Cycle.


When you start a new aquarium it will go through what is called the nitrogen cycle.

The nitrogen cycle is a process which allows "good" bacteria to establish and multiple in the tank, thus breaking down the fish wastes.

Fish excrete ammonia as a waste product. Ammonia is highly toxic to fish and even small quantities in the water can kill your fish. The first bacteria that establish as part of the nitrogen cycle break down ammonia into a product called nitrites.

Nitrites are also toxic to your fish, but not nearly as toxic as ammonia is. As the nitrites start to rise in the tank the bacteria that feed on nitrites will start to multiply and consume the nitrites breaking them down into nitrates.

Nitrates are also toxic to fish, but only in very high quantities. The nitrates will continue to rise in your tank as long as you have fish and are feeding them. Water changes are used to reduce the nitrate levels.


How long does this process take?

Typically the nitrogen cycle takes between 4-6 weeks to complete. During this time it's recommended that you take samples of your tank water to the local fish store and ask them to test it for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The test levels will progress as follows:


Stage 1:

Ammonia zero
Nitrites zero
Nitrates zero

Stage 2:

Ammonia starts to rise
Nitrites zero
Nitrates zero

Stage 3:
Ammonia continues to rise
Nitrites begin to rise
Nitrites zero

Stage 4:
Ammonia levels drop
Nitrites continue to rise
Nitrates begin to rise

Stage 5:
Ammonia: zero
Nitrites levels drop
Nitrates continue to rise

Stage 6:
Ammonia: Zero
Nitrites: Zero
Nitrates continue slow rise



Tips to reduce the time of the nitrogen cycle.

The easiest way to reduce or eliminate the nitrogen cycle is to use a filter from an established tank. This filter already has the bacteria needed to breakdown ammonia and nitrites. By using an established filter you essentially bypass the nitrogen cycle.

Another easy way to shorten the cycle is to use "seed" gravel from an established tank. Simply take a few cups of gravel from an established tank and add it directly into the new tank. This gravel will contain a starter of the bacteria needed. If you don't want to add the gravel to the tank because it is a different color/stone than your gravel you can simply put it into a nylon stocking or cheese cloth "bag" and drop it into the tank. Using this method can cut your cycle time by 50%.

Finally there are live cultures of bacteria such as Bio-Spira (available at http://www.fishstoretn.com ) which will seed your tank with the bacteria needed. This product can virtually eliminate the cycling process.



Stocking your tank during this period.

During the cycling process you want to stock your tank very lightly. This is because if you have too many fish the ammonia will build up faster than the bacteria can break it down and your fish will die. I recommend only 1 or 2 hardy fish such as mollies. You want a fish that can tolerate the fluctuating ammonia and nitrite levels during the cycling process. There are many fish which should be avoided during this process including all catfish and any scaleless fish such as loaches.



Feeding during the cycling process.

I recommend that you feed your fish only once per day, and only as much as they will eat in 5-10 seconds. You should net out any food left over after feeding to prevent it from breaking down into ammonia. Once the cycling process completes you can double the feedings to twice a day.



Water changes during the cycling process.

If done correctly your tank shouldn't need any water changes during the cycling process. However should you find that your ammonia or nitrite levels are dangerously high during the cycling process you should do an immediate 25-50% water change to lower those levels. Water changes during the cycling process can extend the time it takes for your tank to cycle. Once the tank has completed cycling you should start your weekly 10-25% water changes to lower the nitrates in the tank.

Answer 2

The key thing is not to add too many new things at one time. Add a fish wait a week or 2 add another and so on. Evey time you add a new fish there is a small ammonia spike since the bioload can not be handled by the good bacteria to break down the ammonia. Wait for the tank to catch up before you add new fish and only do it one fish at a time and that way the ammonia spike does not get out of hand and is able to be brought back in line by the good bacteria. Your tank should be fine so long as you don't overdo the bioload. The wait is hard but worth it, I ahd to wait to fill a 180 gallon saltwater reef and fish tank. It's really hard to wait but you will have much better results.
Good luck,
dale

Answer 3

The way to get a tank to cycle fast is change water a lot and don't mess with the filter. I've gotten a 55 gallon tank to cycle in 3 weeks. Don't let ammonia levels get over .50 ppm and nitrite over 1ppm. When you get a nitrate reading of any amount in the tank and 0ppm for both ammonia and nitrite then your tank is cycled. Don't let nitrate exceed 40 ppm.

Answer 4

I wouldn't but a time period on it. It took my tank 3 weeks to fully stabalize. There should be some products at your local pet store that will speed it up. I have something called "stress zyme" by API. It works pretty good. Just start your tank with really hearty fish. (Not goldfish) If you want to do a goldfish tank I would start it out with some feeder goldfish and a bottom sucker and then after stabalization add fancy goldfish. Get some test strips as well. They are pretty expensive but they will save you alot of money later.

Answer 5

everytime i start a new tank i alway buy a pair of goldfish and let them live in it for a week or so. My fish are spoiled though, where i am from i have to use gallon water from wal mart, so im sure that gets conditioned faster than tap water, but gallon water isnt a bad way to go, either way i would definitely cycle it with cheap fish if you want anything of value.

Answer 6

I would keep the tank uninhabited for at least 2-3 weeks. When the water starts smelling like new dirt or like the water at pet stores, then you know the tank has been cycled, that is a very unsafe way to determine though, your best and safest bet would be to buy a test kit that tests amonia, nitrite, nitrate, all the water parameters. Good luck.
www.aqua-reliable.co.nr for more information on cycling the tank.

Answer 7

cycleing 10 gallons should take but a day or two. There are some product to increase the good bacteria in the water quicker. regular water changes are necessary but only do partial water changes maybe 25%. Keep the substrate or gravel vacuumed well of poop. your amonia level should stay low. Try Stresszyme when you do water changes it help promote that slime coat that fish have, this helps them to keep bad bacteria off of them. Good luck.
check out this site. http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Misc%20Fish%20Diseases.htm

Answer 8

--->> Tips---> https://trimurl.im/g58/how-long-does-it-take-to-cycle-a-10-gallon-tank

Answer 9

You shoul run it for about two days?

Answer 10

it takes one to two days.