Learning how to Cycle an aquarium the natural way and to just have patience!!!

[Quason778]

About 10 years I purchased a 55gal aquarium from a pet store. I had no clue about cycling my tank and went out the next day and bought 3 Oscars and 2 Red Devil Cichlids. Within a week I lost 3 out of the 5 fish. I was devastated and thought I was doing everything right when I was doing everything wrong. I ended up giving up and giving the tank away a couple of months later after killing all of the fish. I recently bought a 120gal tank and this time, I did alot more research and found out about the nitrogen cycle. I cycled my tank for about a month and finally added my fish about 3 weeks ago. I have (2) 4" ATF and they are doing great so far. Wish me luck!!!

 

[xraycer]

What method did you end up using to cycle the 120?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

This is going to catch me some hell but look into using SafeStart or Stability as a decent insurance policy.
A month isn't quite long enough to fully cycle a tank IME, Unless you were dosing with ammonia or had seeded pieces from a cycled tank.

I made the same mistake with my first tank too. it is a 55L and I let it do its thing for...about a month or so with only 4 little crayfish in there. I started registering small amounts of nitrite/nitrates and thought it was ready so I dropped a 3" bullhead in there...bad move. The ammonia levels shot to well over 4.0 ppm for about a week...nitrites never moved really.

I dosed with Stability and SafeStart, the tanks now stable thankfully...

I put a lot of confidence in those products...a lot of people will tell you they never work...trust me they can save a tank. Just my experiences haha

Good luck! sounds like you did your homework on this one

 

[dogofwar]

I with the first thing that people would do when they purchase their first fish tank is to Google "Aquarium Club <their town>". There are several great fish clubs in the DC area (CCA, PVAS, GWAPA) with forums... and members who could have provided solid advice...maybe even some mature filter media.

Quason - seems like you're into cichlids, so check out the Capital Cichlid Association (www.capitalcichlids.org) - monthly meetings in Silver Spring, MD (2nd Saturday of the month) - guests welcome.

Matt

About 10 years I purchased a 55gal aquarium from a pet store. I had no clue about cycling my tank and went out the next day and bought 3 Oscars and 2 Red Devil Cichlids. Within a week I lost 3 out of the 5 fish. I was devastated and thought I was doing everything right when I was doing everything wrong. I ended up giving up and giving the tank away a couple of months later after killing all of the fish. I recently bought a 120gal tank and this time, I did alot more research and found out about the nitrogen cycle. I cycled my tank for about a month and finally added my fish about 3 weeks ago. I have (2) 4" ATF and they are doing great so far. Wish me luck!!!

 

[Natimus]

This is going to catch me some hell but look into using SafeStart or Stability as a decent insurance policy.
A month isn't quite long enough to fully cycle a tank IME, Unless you were dosing with ammonia or had seeded pieces from a cycled tank.

I made the same mistake with my first tank too. it is a 55L and I let it do its thing for...about a month or so with only 4 little crayfish in there. I started registering small amounts of nitrite/nitrates and thought it was ready so I dropped a 3" bullhead in there...bad move. The ammonia levels shot to well over 4.0 ppm for about a week...nitrites never moved really.

I dosed with Stability and SafeStart, the tanks now stable thankfully...

I put a lot of confidence in those products...a lot of people will tell you they never work...trust me they can save a tank. Just my experiences haha

Good luck! sounds like you did your homework on this one

You're not the only one. I've had good results with SafeStart in the past.

 

[reptilerescued]

Yup when in doubt don't be afraid to go chemical war fair.
(with meds or safe start/stability)

look at it this way.
your fish MIGHT die if you do something. your fish ARE going to die if you do nothing!

I was pushed into a corner with my gar and after 3 weeks of a fish cycle on my 160 I had to move him. I used stability to get him in there.
It worked so good I'm using it for a "fast cycle " so I can bring home my 3 female and 1 male congo tetras either today of this weekend.

Nothing is better then a natural cycle, Sometimes you just have no choice like moving or a fish growing alot faster then you want it to.
Rich