I setup a 75g a little over 2 weeks ago. The ammonia had spiked and is now not present for 3 days.... Is it too early to put fish in the tank...? I want to put my dats and rays in it or are they too fragile?
Can a tank cycle in two weeks or so??? Want to put fish in their new tank...
- Thread starter michael
- Start date
You need to get a test kit and monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank. After the first introduction of fish, It is only safe to add more after the ammonia and nitrite levels go down to zero. The cycling process normally takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks. At low temperatures it takes even longer. Add one or two fish at a time. Wait a couple of weeks before adding more fish. But i would not put my dats and rays in it untill 100% happy.
I throw in a mix of my plant tank fish...
a few goldfish, guppies and some ghost shrimp to clean the extra food from the bottom.
Get the poop factory going and it should be ready, it really won't "cycle" unless you have fishes doin' their thing, the ammonia will spike then it should fall into a nice cycle
Get a testkit to make sure before you put your rays in
Or go to your LFS and get some additives that cycle it quickly with no PETA cruelty
a few goldfish, guppies and some ghost shrimp to clean the extra food from the bottom.
Get the poop factory going and it should be ready, it really won't "cycle" unless you have fishes doin' their thing, the ammonia will spike then it should fall into a nice cycle
Get a testkit to make sure before you put your rays inOr go to your LFS and get some additives that cycle it quickly with no PETA cruelty
The tank has had 3 well fed large pbass in there the whole time. i did see some stress from the pbass while the ammonia was present but they are active as hell now. I do have test kits and have been testing the whole time.. I saw the ammonia spike, hold, and now has been at 0 for 3 consecutive days. All nitrites are at 0 as well. Ph is around 7.2 and the water cycled at 82 degrees. The fish have been eating and pooping a ton. Is it safe to say the cycle is done or should i hold off some more....?
Did your nitirite ever spike? Usaually nitirite take 7-10 days to get down to zero (or absolute zero)
#1 - remove fish
#2 - drain the tank
#3 - refill the tank with fresh water
#4 - buy seachem's stability or marinelands Bio-Spira
#5 - dechlor the water
#6 - add stability or Bio-spira AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
#7 - put fish in
#8 - enjoy your tank.
#2 - drain the tank
#3 - refill the tank with fresh water
#4 - buy seachem's stability or marinelands Bio-Spira
#5 - dechlor the water
#6 - add stability or Bio-spira AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
#7 - put fish in
#8 - enjoy your tank.
Do I still need to do this step?? Nitrite never really spiked though....but does read 0ppm
I know someone is gonna get pissed off at this post, but here goes 
I've setup a
125g, and placed a used sponge from one of my established tanks. here's the doozey, and would upset several members in this forum. I added ten 2" widebars the day after. Temp was at 75-78. Filtration is a 30 gallon wet and dry system. They all survive. And this is what I've been doing to my freshwater tanks. Saltwater is different.
I've setup a 125g, and placed a used sponge from one of my established tanks. here's the doozey, and would upset several members in this forum. I added ten 2" widebars the day after. Temp was at 75-78. Filtration is a 30 gallon wet and dry system. They all survive. And this is what I've been doing to my freshwater tanks. Saltwater is different.
With Bio Spra you should add the fish at the same time. If you don't add the fish when you put it in the bacteria will starve.
Even with Bio Spira it takes 11 days to fully cycle but you have to add the fish right away.