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Ok, I replaced the 2 filters in my emperor 400 in my 55 gallon tank, and put them in my 20 gallon long. (right now im just floating them in the water)

The tank has been up for a few days now, so how long should it take to cycle it? (with the filters in) im looking for a general area, not something like 3 days, 13 hours, 5 minutes, and 54 seconds, just approx.

There was 1ppm of ammo lastnight, and the pH is a little alikine, probably around 7.2-7.5, the temp is 78, and the filter is a bio-wheel built into an eclipse 20 gallon long system.

Thanks for any help!!!!!

More important than cycling in my opinion is not when the cycle is completed, but when you should do water changes. You can add hardy fish to your tank right now. Keep in mind that these fish should start out in a pair, then add maybe one fish per week after that. Changing your water is a must, whether the cycle is completed or not. Most people say to go with 20% water change per week, I agree, but think that it also depends on your filteration, size of your tank and amount of fish per square foot. With your fiter, it depends if the bio wheel was dry and not used before you put into your 20 gal. tank. If its dry, its useless, the bacteria is dead. If the bio-wheel has been pulled straight from another established tank, my guess is it should cut the cycle time by about half. That all depends on how many fish you have in your tank.

Are you trying to do a fishless cycle? That's what I did to my 55g and it took right around a month, maybe a few days over.

I haven't done it, but I've heard many times that if you cycle with fish, you add 2-3 a week, saving schoolers for last so they can be added together. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

ive been told that it takes 36 days from setting up the tank, then you have a well-balanced aquarium.

there have been fish in the tank for 4 days.

I didnt put bio-wheels from another tank in.

Im trying to help the cycle going by putting the filters from my emp 400 in my 20 gallon long tank to help the cycle going, i was wondering how long i needed the filters in the tank.

If there is no bacteria that has been built up already, adding another filter will only help the chemical and mechanical process of filteration. It might decrease the time for bacteria to build up, but the best way to do it would be to take gravel or an ornament from another established tank and put into your new one. The only other thing I can recommend is to add a product called "cycle" or nitromax to your tank.