How long does Nitrite spike last?

[tbfoto]

How long does the Nitrite spike last? I'm fishless cycleling my first tank (20 gal.). My ammonia is near 0 but my nitrites are "off the charts" like they are suppose to get, but how long does it take for the nitrates to start to take over and does it happen as quickly as the nitirte spike? My nitrite spike happened over night, will the nitrates kick in just as quick?

Thanks,
Tom

[Lady Hobbs]

It takes longer to produce the nitrites eating bacteria than that of the ammonia. Nitrites can appear "stuck" for a period of time before dropping. When they start to go, they can go over night, however. I would guess about a week to 10 days before they go.

Make sure you do no cleaning of that tank or clean the gravel. That will set it back to day one.

[salman]

When i first bought my fish tank, the people working in the store said i have to only wait 24 hours to put the fish in. No wonder why most of my fish died lol. But do you have to wait for like a week if you want to do a full water change again sometime leaving the same filter inside?

[RobbieG]

When i first bought my fish tank, the people working in the store said i have to only wait 24 hours to put the fish in. No wonder why most of my fish died lol. But do you have to wait for like a week if you want to do a full water change again sometime leaving the same filter inside?

You have to do water changes if you have fish in the tank (I'm assuming you do since you said most) to keep the water liveable.

There is not necessarily any need to if you don't.

[Lady Hobbs]

People at the fish store seem to screw up more people than they help in many cases. I see no reason to wait a week to add your fish. What purpose is there when cycling does not even start until you have your fish to produce the ammonia. Nothing starts without the ammonia.

I will generally let my tank sit and filter for a couple days mainly to see if there are leaks. No other reason. Dechlorinator works instantly so waiting is of no purpose.

Bio spira can be used at the same time fish are added and I think it's the one product that cycles in just a few days. Other than that, if you use fish for cycling it's a long tedious process and you have to keep up with water changes or they will die.

If you have a friend that has a fish tank, you can steal some gravel and used filter from him but if not, you have to wait a bit longer for the cycle to start.

You need not change water if your levels are tolerable to the fish. You need some ammonia there to start the process. And do only small water changes if at all possible to keep the toxins down and NO cleaning of anything.