cycling
- Thread starter jason888
- Start date
sepulatian
Moderator
Cycling is not measured by time. Do you have a test kit? Was the rock cured or uncured?
J
judib
Guest
It can take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month or more depending on about 100 variables. You just need to keep a close eye on params so you know what phase of the cycle you are in.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Jason888
it was cured and i dont have a very good kit but the reason i ask how long ive had different people say 3 weeks 3 months etc...
That is the thing with cycling. It truely does depend. You have LS and cured LR. You will need a liquid master test kit. That can not wait. You can throw a piece of raw shrimp (from the grocery store) in there to start the cycle. When the ammonia reaches .50-1ppm take the shrimp out. Wait for the ammonia to reach zero. You will then get a nitrite spike. When the nitrite hits zero and stays there then it is safe to add your cleanup crew. No one can say exactly how long this takes. You NEED a quality test kit. If you allow your ammonia to hit the roof then you will lose beneficial critters in your LR and LS.
it was cured and i dont have a very good kit but the reason i ask how long ive had different people say 3 weeks 3 months etc...
That is the thing with cycling. It truely does depend. You have LS and cured LR. You will need a liquid master test kit. That can not wait. You can throw a piece of raw shrimp (from the grocery store) in there to start the cycle. When the ammonia reaches .50-1ppm take the shrimp out. Wait for the ammonia to reach zero. You will then get a nitrite spike. When the nitrite hits zero and stays there then it is safe to add your cleanup crew. No one can say exactly how long this takes. You NEED a quality test kit. If you allow your ammonia to hit the roof then you will lose beneficial critters in your LR and LS.