View Full Version : cycling for long enough
smellsfishy
07-24-2005, 5:38 PM
A lesson learned not to be quick on the gun. TWICE i cycle my two different tanks and getting the biological filter started. But I was impatient and filled the tank with fish about two days later. Ammonia levels were so high with in a couple of weeks with no help in sight. OUCH and a big waste of money. I let them cycle for a real long time now.
monique2212
07-24-2005, 5:55 PM
There are some products you can buy to help start your bio filter. Also start by putting some fish in that are not expensive. They will help get the filter going and if they die you are not out much money.I usually put some zebras in first untill my tank has had a chance to cycle for a couple of weeks. Then just make sure that your levels are in range and you should be ready to go.
Throw a chunk of raw shrimp in your tank, and let it rot for a few weeks.
Vwa-la, you're tank is cycled and you didn't lose a single fish.
Keep in mind, when your adding fish your biological filtration must build up to that level. Many people think "Oh great, now my tank is cycled!" and they go and add 20 fish and still get the 'mysterious' ammonia spike in the tank that was 'already cycled..'
Miles
dabigshot77
07-25-2005, 1:31 AM
I've always found that if you siphon the water from an established tank into a new tank, the water will be fully cycled within a week. this is from my experience and adding a few cups of gravel or substrate from an established tank into a new will also cycle the water in less time. I recently cycled a new 180 gallon freshwater tank in less than a week with this method. I was able to put two silver arrowanas and two large clown knife fish with no problems in water quality into the 180 within a week.
FYI, Water holds little/no nitrifying bacteria content.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
redtailfool
07-25-2005, 11:37 PM
Agreed. ive added old existing filter media on new tanks and it gets the job done. Good Lessons Learned tip !
sleepyflight
07-26-2005, 7:00 AM
FYI, Water holds little/no nitrifying bacteria content.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
Yup....get it ready to roll, and to a quicky filter swap and ....yeaaaaah, she's ready to smack down on the $hickac
I also usually start the cycling by adding old filter media and if using an undergravel filter I use some gravel from an established tank. I usually cycle with dianos, guppies and neons, added a few at a time, they end up mostly as feeders. It takes acouple of weeks beforwe I feel ready to add any "real" fish and I add them least agressive to most. I have almost as much fun planning the tank as I do keeping it.
I keep several sponge filters in my established tanks. Pull one out of a couple tanks and throw them in the new tank, replace the ones removed with new. VOILA.
Put the used ones in the new tank and give em a shake.
unknownuza13
07-26-2005, 4:53 PM
I did not know that adding the water from an existing tank was of no use even though I had a feeling it might be the case. When I just set up a 55 for the a baby tig and ten african aros I was supposed to be getting uhh a week ago now.. I siphoned from my 120 into the 55.. and then I took the emperor off the 120 as well and got it running on the 55. I also have 5-8 african cichlids in there.
I have heard both methods of putting water from an established tank or filter will do the trick when cycling a new tank. Also the method of putting some cheap and hardy fish in there to get it the bio going.
toxicfish
08-12-2005, 3:48 AM
FYI, Water holds little/no nitrifying bacteria content.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
I agree
rumblesushi
09-08-2005, 4:56 AM
I recently cycled a tank in a week using bacteria from an established tank.
The old tank has an undergravel filter, lots of gravel and a real fast powerhead.
I put some gravel in the new tank, I syphoned the gravel and put about a gallon of water in the new tank.
I also bought a sponge filter, put the sponge in a bucket and throughly vacuumed the gravel over the sponge, then quickly put the sponge filter in the new tank.
Also took a rock out of the new tank, put it over an airstone. And a heater from the old tank.
Addes stess zyme, put in a piranha and a couple of oscars and didn't even notice much of an ammonia spike. The tank cycled quick.
bpeerso
09-15-2005, 12:50 AM
Yeah good idea
elevatethis
09-19-2005, 11:01 PM
FYI, Water holds little/no nitrifying bacteria content.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
Definitely learned that lesson. I set up a 20L in my room with 20 gallons of water from my roommate's 75gal downstairs. Cycling still took about 3-4 weeks.
kailasma
02-08-2006, 3:16 PM
I would set it all up, get the pump and water flowing and throw about a dozen goldfish or some other cheap fish in there and let them own the tank for about 4 to 6 weeks. This will really help get your cycle started
I have never had a problem with this. I use aquarisol, havent cycled a tank for years.
Fried_fish
02-09-2006, 2:01 PM
fishless cycle is the best imo.
paOol
02-17-2006, 12:05 AM
fishless cycle is boring -_____________-.
i rather use goldfish for a while. at least i can watch them swim and eat.
dodgefreak8
02-17-2006, 12:23 AM
if your real impatient like me I have 2 words for ya BIO SPIRA!!!!!! fully cycled my 220 with this stuff I added my aro, pictus, eel, all right away and never saw ammonia or nitrite and I had measurable nitrate in 2 days.. absolutly the ONLY real instant tank cycle. All other additives are a rip off this includes; CYCLE, STABILITY,STRES-ZYME. now I just juice a filter but the stuff is awesome
Fried_fish
02-24-2006, 10:41 PM
fishless cycle is boring -_____________-.
i rather use goldfish for a while. at least i can watch them swim and eat.
Patience my young grasshopper
Rooster
02-25-2006, 11:52 PM
There is NO replacement for patience ! Let the cycle complete, or you are in for disapointment ! Not to mention that its not kind to our fishy friends !
Reno159
02-26-2006, 8:47 PM
IM trying to cycle my new 140 and its just not working. It started off by filling it 1/4 full with old water from old tanks and adding a filter from an old tank and about 30 goldfish. I kept about 30 goldfish in there for about 2 weeks but everyday some would be dead. I kept bringing water samples to my LFS every week and they keep saying to do 25% water changes. Its been over a month and i even went to a different LFS today and they said the same thing, 25% water change and come back next week for another test. I believe they said nitrate was too high.
Fried_fish
03-01-2006, 12:45 AM
IM trying to cycle my new 140 and its just not working. It started off by filling it 1/4 full with old water from old tanks and adding a filter from an old tank and about 30 goldfish. I kept about 30 goldfish in there for about 2 weeks but everyday some would be dead. I kept bringing water samples to my LFS every week and they keep saying to do 25% water changes. Its been over a month and i even went to a different LFS today and they said the same thing, 25% water change and come back next week for another test. I believe they said nitrate was too high.
ok first off when you are cylcing a tank doing water changes will just prolong the process. Secondly don't use goldfish to cycle your tank unless u kill them and let sit there and rot. Hope that helps and no I'm not joking.