How long to cycle new tank?

Question:
I had my new tank set up a week, and 4 days ago added 2 goldfish to start the cycle.
I've added all old decorations from old tank plus filter with bb to start the process. Since this I've tested and got:
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
0 nitrates
And now today
0 ammonia
0nitrites
.55 nitrates.
It's an ApI master kit.
Surely my cycle wouldn't be working this fast?
Aquarium is 120 litre (I think 30 gal) and contains 2 goldfish.
Thanks

 

Possible with such a small bioload and old media being used but I would take readings for a few more days to be sure. What are you planning on stocking in that tank and what are you going to do with the goldfish?

 

Gold fish are not optimal for a fish in cycle as they are huge wast producers. However if you have a healthy colony of BB than yea your cycled. Your not getting ammonia readings? Just 're test every day for like a week. But those are the numbers you want to see

 

Yeah. Well we had the goldfish already. Have put in this tank for now but what I want to do is buy a much larger tank soon and use this one for some tropical fish perhaps? Or my other option is a pond but I have dogs so not sure that will work out well. Either way I want a larger tank so I'm happy to put these 2 in that once I get it. The one I want is 50 gal...

And no I haven't got any ammonia readings and first nitrate reading today and yes I shook the out of bottle no 2 like it says.

 

What kind of dogs? Mine most likely would drink the water and play in it, but I don't think most dogs would bother the fish much in a pond. Unless you had one of those labrador lobster retrievers!

 

They are Staffies. They eat everything! Lol

 

I'd imagine they would just bark at anything close to the surface of the water. You'd most likely be fine unless you've seen them grab things out of lakes or rivers aside from floating sticks and such.

 

No I haven't

Anyways the kids love their 2 goldies. I'll decide when I upgrade. They will be ok in the 30 gal for a while

 

I too just started a new tank (29gal) adding filter media and a pantyhose full of substrate from an established tank, my tank cycled in less then 2.5weeks. I would like others say continue testing for another week just to make sure. Then stock slowly! Good luck!!

 

Thanks. As it has 2 goldfish I won't be stocking too much more. But since I'm getting bigger later I'll prove just get a few little cold water tetras (can't remember their name lol) Abd that's it. Will upgrade later when they grow more. But too much larger so I won't have to again
Then use this tank fir something different

 

Thanks. As it has 2 goldfish I won't be stocking too much more. But since I'm getting bigger later I'll prove just get a few little cold water tetras (can't remember their name lol) Abd that's it. Will upgrade later when they grow more. But too much larger so I won't have to again
Then use this tank fir something different

If I were you, I eould wait to add anymore fish. Its good to stock for the tank you have, not the tank you plan to have as things can come up and push off upgrading.
Just a tip

 

I too just started a new tank (29gal) adding filter media and a pantyhose full of substrate from an established tank, my tank cycled in less then 2.5weeks. I would like others say continue testing for another week just to make sure. Then stock slowly! Good luck!!

Just curious, I'm a newbie, how often did you change the water and what % of water did you change?

 

Once once a week once cycled. While cycling daily or at least every 2nd day. If testing for high ammonia sometimes twice a day. (For water changes)
I change about 25 % based on advice of lps

 

Basically, once cycled you want to do a large enough water change every week, that your nitrate level stays under 20ppm at all times. (Assuming 0ppm nitrates in your tap water). Generally, depending on how heavily stocked you are somewhere between 25% and 60% will be sufficient.

 

It's strange I'm still testing.
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
.5 nitrate
Tank was set up a week with no fish and goldfish been in 5 days now.
According to this I'm cycled but it's new filter.
But I did place old one in there and old decorations.
And yes I'll keep doing 25% as long as parameters are good.

And ph 7.6

 

Did you test your tap water? That may be your tap readings as well.you can (I have) get an instant cycle when using old media and used decor, provided it stayed wet.