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how long do you have to let your tank run before putting fish in it?? i was told 72 hours and i was also told a week??

it really depends on the size of the tank n the ways it establishes itself

the best way to b sure is to test the water usen kits for ammonia nitrates n nitrites

if ur not sure what this means look up the nitrogen cycle itll walk ya through set by set

i wait atleast 7 days for every tank, then i test for the ammonia and nitrites

I only waited 3 days for my current tank because I plan on testing the water every other day and making sure to keep the fish healthy through the cycle. For my first few tanks, I let the tank run for a full month while treating it as if I had fish in it. Either way will work, just be sure that you keep up on the tank depending on which method you use.

Read about the Nitrogen Cycle before you make any decisions though. - http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-cycling.asp

Edit - I'm havng problems of my own currently. lol But I started a new thread for my problems. Due to my current situation, I would strongly suggest letting the tank go for a month with out fish and keep your weekly maintainence up.

Last edited by DMDyne at 07-Mar-2005 17:25

Well, you dont need to let your tank run for any time before putting fish in.

Letting your tank sit there does absolutly nothing, other than take the chlorine out (if you arent using a remover).

Letting your tank sit there does absolutely nothing

You are SO wrong my friend Victom. The tank should be allowed to sit/run with water in it for no less than 24 hrs.

This gives your Gas Exchange in the tap water time to happen.

Water just pored from the tap will normally swing in it's PH reading during the first 24 hrs. It might go higher it might go lower.

Either way it's not a good idea to expose your fish to this type of stress. Especially one that can be so easily avoided just by letting the water sit for 24 hrs.

I think he ment trying to cycle the tank without fish, because you dont have the ammonia needed to start the process

Cycling process could take anywhere from 4 to 7 weeks depending on the size of the tank, amount of ammonia introduced and others.
You are not ready to add fish till ammonia NH3 and nitrates NO3 level reaches 0.
Then, you have enough beneficial bacteria to take care of any NH3 produced by your fish.

Rohn

Cycling process could take anywhere from 4 to 7 weeks depending on the size of the tank, amount of ammonia introduced and others.
You are not ready to add fish till ammonia NH3 and nitrates NO3 level reaches 0.
Then, you have enough beneficial bacteria to take care of any NH3 produced by your fish.

Rohn

I waited for 3 weeks to add fish in my tank.
Its been 4 weeks now and i still have some nitrate 0,2.
you could add some fish after a week or two,but go with some hardy fish.
Robby

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I know human beings and fish can co-exist peacefully.

i run the filter for one entire day then start putting plants on the 2nd. on the 3rd..i start putting hardy fish to initiate the cycle