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I just wanted to know what affects cycling rates in different tanks. I have 4 tanks that I started up between 8-4-04 and 9-15-04. The first tank, a 45 gallon cube, I gradually stocked with tetras & never got a significant ammonia or nitrite level. I know they had to be there, but just barely detectable levels. One of the other tanks, a 29 gallon, I gradually stocked with tetras also, there is now a total of 7 tetras, and its been 3 weeks and ammonia levels have been elevated at what the test vials says is "stress". Nitrites are 0 ppm still! This suggests a very slow cycling process. The other 2 tanks went as expected, one is fully cycled now with some tiger barbs, the other is new and cycling with 3 gouramies and is in the ammonia phase. All tanks get 20% water changes weekly or more, all have HOB filters with biowheels..

My 20 gal tank took nearly 8 weeks to cycle with 3 platies and at least 20 platy frys. It can take a very long time.

From what I was told, doing water changes while cycling is actually slowing the process down. (Although there is differing opinions on it). I was told the only time to do a water change while cycling was if the Ammonia or the Nitrite level got in the danger zone. I had Ammonia levels up to 3 mg/l and never did a water change, I believe my Nitrites were that high as well. All the fish survived and the tank is perfect now, with the addition of 2 dwarf gouramis.

HTH

Hmmm... that seems very strange. I just had my first tank (a 32 gallon) finish cycling with no problems. I had 7 danios in there and its been about a month. I used Cycle witch really seemed to help since ammonia and the nitrate levels stayed relatively low throughout the cycle. I also used BioMax in my filter. I think you shouldnt be doing 20 percent water changes in your cycling tanks every week. I waited a few weeks to do a bigger water change in my tank and I had no problems. Maybe it is the water changes.

Wow! Eight weeks! I must have had a lot of luck with my tank its been just about a month now and its done cycling. After 3 weeks my nitrites were almost down to 0! Maybe it was the Cycle. That stuff works!

I used a cup of gravel from my own tank to seed my 90 gallon. It was done in about 5 weeks.

Ericm, I know tell me about it! I used NIC (cycle) about 3 times in that 8 weeks. I dont know what it was. It took forever for the ammonia to go back down, and then took 2-3 wks for the nitrite to spike and go down. I was going crazy. lol.