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How long do you half to cycal the tank before adding fish.

If you're doing a fishless cycle (adding flake food, or pure ammonia) you need to wait till ammonia and nitrIte have risen then fallen to zero with nitrAtes present before adding any fish. This process can take 3-6 weeks depending on specifics.

If you're cycling with hardy fish you add 1/3 of the tank stocking using a fish that is capeable of tolerating the ammonia and nitrIte. Most common is the zebra danio. After adding a few you wait till both ammonia and nitrIte have risen then fallen back to zero and you have a nitrAte reading. You can add your cycling fish after 36-48 hours of having the tank set up with filter heater ect running. The cycling will complete in approx 3-6 weeks after adding your cycling fish.
HTH a bit.

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