Confused about "instant cycle". . .

[Celestevan]

Thanks. I'm thinking that is the route I'm going to go versus boiling everything. I'd hate to kill all the BB and have to fully cycle the 40 gallon. Now that I think about it, maybe it would be best to move everyone from the 15 into the 40 gallon, then allow the Loaches to be QT in the 15 gallon for a week + before introducing them to the 40, no?

 

[aclockworkorange]

I would just move over all the fish at once and all the filters at once, your BB will die without ammonia to eat. I prefer seachem stability over safestart personally. Safestart does work, I just prefer stability because you can use it with prime if you need to do a water change.
You might get a mini cycle but I wouldn't worry yourself sick, people tend to stress a little too much about it IME. Just keep an eye on the parameters and do water changes if needed.
Quarantining the loaches isn't a bad idea, but a week isn't going to do much. I would just add them if it were my tank but thats me and I have a great LFS that quarantines and treats fish when they get them (this doesn't prevent everything of course). Try feeding really lightly both for your cycle and so the loaches are actively seeking snails for a food source if you have them.

 

[Celestevan]

Thank you aclockworkorange, once again you are a life saver. I'll have to look for that brand you recommended. I forgot that you had mentioned it in a previous thread of mine. I hear of all the horrible things about not cycling and disease breaking out and I think I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to my pets, whether it's the fish or dogs something might possibly get or be sick, lol.

 

[aclockworkorange]

You're welcome.

When I started seriously keeping fish I was very very careful about everything, did fishless cycles, all kinds of stuff. Now that I've had a lot of experience with it, I am still cautious but I've learned what I can relax on and what I can't.
Here's another thing to consider: your ph. Ammonia is much more toxic at a ph over 7.0, so if you have that, just be extra mindful of your ammonia levels. Nitrite is toxic at any ph.
If you have any problems you can PM me.