Colony and nitrates

[Toml2000]

for the first time ever I have been persuaded to cycle a tank using colony,always a bit sceptical as I have always taken the long route with fish in,using stability/ prime , with one,2 max hardy fish to give ammonia boost . I have used that method with tropicaI African chiclids and marine fish only and reef. I have followed the instruction to the letter using tap water(fish only,no live rock ) and a dechlorinater.end of day 2 and I have nitrates,all beit at a low level,but no nitrite,in fact the nitrate is the same reading as my tap water, so unless my nitrates rise above my tap water reading am I right in the assumption that colony hasn’t worked,and I may still be heading for the normal 3-6 week cycle.Wolud appreciate if anyone has had success with colony ,and if my assumptions are correct .Thanks in advance

 

[vetteguy53081]

Rarely do people utilize colony, but rather - live rock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

for the first time ever I have been persuaded to cycle a tank using colony,

FWIW, I do not know what that means.

 

[Rmckoy]

Colony is said to be a nitrifying bacteria .
whether it works or not ..
I have used it many times but always added to speed up a cycle in a new tank .

I’ve always used the raw seafood in nylon fish less cycle .
turned lights off and run the system as normal for a few weeks .
tested ammonia throughout the first week to detect high ammonia .
Testing nitrites , and later nitrates to confirm higher levels of each stage .
when only nitrates were detectable I would preform a large 50% water change and start adding livestock .
Rocks , sand were all in the tank prior to starting