Nitrogen Cycle Question

[Jack]

I have recently been setting up a 10 gallon tank and am two days into the Nitrogen Cycle. I was wondering how long it usually takes for the first ammonia spiked to occur. I put four or five fish pellets in there to get the process started and I also added API quick start. I've heard that sometimes if you add the bottled beneficial bacteria there won't be any ammonia or nitrite spikes. If this is true how will I know when the cycle is done?

[Ben Ellison]

In my experience it's very dependant on the load. If you was to put 1 beta in a 10 gallon you may never see the spike because it's low load. If you put in say a handful of guppies and fed them flakes you would probably have a spike in 4-6 days 

 

[Jack]

Do you think I could put the betta in and do an fish in cycle because the bio-load would be so low?

[Ben Ellison]

I would think a betta would be fine in it as long as you keep a eye on the levels and keep the current down. I have cycled many small tanks with a single betta or a handful of harlequins.

[Jack]

Thank You so much for this information!!!

[Ben Ellison]

Make sure to be careful with feeding and don't be afraid tondo water changes and keep a close eye on the levels and you got this 😃

[Sykes]

Also agree that a single betta should be fine for a fish-in cycle as long as you keep an eye on the levels, but if you do continue with a fishless cycle switching to flakes instead of pellets might help. They break down in the water quicker.

[Jack]

I will try flakes if I can get my hands on them. Thank You