2 Week Cycle Time Possible?

[johnm]

Hello Everyone,
I set up a 55gal two weeks ago and began cycling with LR. Yesterday I took a sample of my water to the LFS to be tested, my nitrite and ammonia levels were zero, my nitrate was in line according to the shop employee. He says it would be ok to start adding fish, but I'm still concerned. Do you think it's safe?
My setup (so far):
55 gal
(2) 55W compacts
Bio Wheel
Skilter w/Protein Skimmer
40# LR

 

[megadon]

My tank cycled without ever seeing ammonia or nitrites, I got LR and LS from an older tank from a guy I know. I just had to wait about 3 weeks for the Nitrates to drop off. I put a Damsel from another friends tank in 3 days after the LR went in and he is still kicking 3 weeks later.

 

[angelofdeath132]

my tank cycled in only 2 weeks!

 

[pstanley]

My tank also cycled without ever seeing any ammonia or nitrite (using live rock and a filter from a freshwater tank).

 

[charvel]

My tank cycled in 3 weeks.

 

[clarkiiboi]

I never saw a nitrate reading (or anything else) when I started, using LR and LS....and I thought I was crazy, but all is ok and its been 6 months.
Do you have LS also? I checked my tank for at least 1 1/2 - 2 months to make sure there was no spike. Just be careful, wait it out, its worth it in the long run. Invest in your own testing kit, and IMO dont get anything else but a damsel or 2 to start out just incase. If I could do it over again I would of put green chromis in, I do believe they are damsel like and are much better to have (not so aggressive) and can take a spike, and if you do that add at least 3 or more than 4. HTH

 

[jester]

IN this hobby you too will learn that anything is possible.
Good luck.

 

[broomer5]

john
Since you only have the one test kit reading, it's hard to say if the tank has cycled.
All you can say is that on the day ( moment you took the water sample ) that you had the lfs test the tankwater - that there was not enough ammonia or nitrite to register on the test kit he/she used, and some nitrate was present.
A typical tank cycle occurs over a "period" of time. With only one set of test results, you only have one given snapshot in the time period that describes what's going on in the new tank.
Could be hours, days, weeks or months that this time period lasts .... most every tank cycles a little differently.
It's all a matter of bacteria reproduction/population versus fuel sources.
Some new tanks follow the typical rise and fall of ammonia and nitrite, that are easy to measure and monitor as the tank cycles.
Other tanks don't seem to follow this pattern.
Seems like from most people's experience I read, the more live rock, live sand or other forms of introduced/established bacteria source initially in the new tank may lead to a very quick cycle.
I've had fast cycles with little if any readings on the test kits.
I've had longer cycles as well that were pretty easy to follow along with.
ClarkiiBoi made a good comment in my opinion.
Invest in your own testing kit(s).

 

[sterling007]

I'm glad to read all these posts regarding cycling time. I thought I was crazy and doing something obviously wrong, because my tanks nitrite and ammonia were always good. My nitrate is noticeable, but normal. I put in LR and LS and two weeks later two damsels. One week later everything was still good to go, so....I took the leap and started adding the fish from my existing tank. I'd add one, do readings for the next 3 days, add another, 3 days, more readings add another, so on......all still good. I have the brown algae (diatoms) on the DSB but that's to be expected also.