Cycled in 1 day?!

[skjl47]

I saw one of my fish stressed from bullying in my established tank

after taking some filter media from my established tank

I used Marineland aquarium bacteria, stress zyme and filter media. I have a 125g tank and am using a Fluval fx4 canister filter that’s big enough for a 250g. I still think I’m cycling but definitely doing well. I have 5 small fish and a pleco in there. Not too much bioload. I’m adding ammonia as well in different ways. Keeping an eye on things and not being too hasty. I’ll be adding 4 other small fish next week and that will be the entirety of my stock. This will be a grow out tank and it won’t be crowded. Space makes fish happy in my opinion.

Hello; I am a bit confused as to why you are still adding ammonia to a tank with live fish. Ammonia is toxic to fish and will cause damage depending on the concentration. The fish will also add ammonia as will decay of excess food bits. Once fish have been put into a tank do not add bottled ammonia is my understanding.

I also understood that you have an established tank already running. Is this correct? If so you do not need to add bottled bacteria, just some solid material from the established tank. I also agree that water from the old tank is not needed. The bb are a bio film on surfaces.

 

[Adictd2Fsh]

I used Marineland aquarium bacteria, stress zyme and filter media. I have a 125g tank and am using a Fluval fx4 canister filter that’s big enough for a 250g. I still think I’m cycling but definitely doing well. I have 5 small fish and a pleco in there. Not too much bioload. I’m adding ammonia as well in different ways. Keeping an eye on things and not being too hasty. I’ll be adding 4 other small fish next week and that will be the entirety of my stock. This will be a grow out tank and it won’t be crowded. Space makes fish happy in my opinion.

Hello; I am a bit confused as to why you are still adding ammonia to a tank with live fish. Ammonia is toxic to fish and will cause damage depending on the concentration. The fish will also add ammonia as will decay of excess food bits. Once fish have been put into a tank do not add bottled ammonia is my understanding.

I also understood that you have an established tank already running. Is this correct? If so you do not need to add bottled bacteria, just some solid material from the established tank. I also agree that water from the old tank is not needed. The bb are a bio film on surfaces.

It never hurts to add stress zyme of some sort. I agree I would quit adding ammonia if there are fish, there poop and food will create enough. If your already cycled filters are adequate wich sounds like they are you can stock your tank add bacteria and be good to go. Add bacteria double dose for next two weeks with regular water changes. I have done this multiple times. Dump 30 or 40 gals of water from other Aquarium in, hook up a cycled filter add bacteria and stock tank fully all in same day with no complications. I have even done this last year with discus fish wich laid eggs three weeks later.

 

[Sarah J]

When I stated adding ammonia in different ways, I meant by different fish food. No , I’m not adding liquid ammonia to my tank. Yes, I know ammonia is deadly.

 

[monkeybike]

I keep an air powered sponge filter sitting in my sump just for use in establishing new tanks.

 

[duanes]

I agree with skjl47s confusion, adding ammonia is for fish less cycling.
I have not had to cycle a new tank in almost 30 years, because I always simply move some seasoned filter media and decor (like wood or rocks) from an established tank to a new set up (of course I lightly stock for the first to months), to allow the population of bacteria to establish, or I just add any new tank set up to an established line of tanks on a sump.
Adding seasoned media or seasoned stuff has always been enough, I also use never need to bottled bacteria, or products like cyme or ???? when doing it this way.

 

[Rocksor]

When I stated adding ammonia in different ways, I meant by different fish food. No , I’m not adding liquid ammonia to my tank. Yes, I know ammonia is deadly.

You are letting fish food rot in the tank? If so, this is a good way to introduce pathogenic bacteria harmful to the fish.

 

[Sarah J]

You are letting fish food rot in the tank? If so, this is a good way to introduce pathogenic bacteria harmful to the fish.

It’s not rotting. The fish are eating it. I thought just simply adding it to the tank would help. But no it is not rotting. It’s small amounts. They are producing their small waste. Thank you.

 

[Sarah J]

I agree with skjl47s confusion, adding ammonia is for fish less cycling.
I have not had to cycle a new tank in almost 30 years, because I always simply move some seasoned filter media and decor (like wood or rocks) from an established tank to a new set up (of course I lightly stock for the first to months), to allow the population of bacteria to establish, or I just add any new tank set up to an established line of tanks on a sump.
Adding seasoned media or seasoned stuff has always been enough, I also use never need to bottled bacteria, or products like cyme or ???? when doing it this way.

I’m not adding liquid ammonia to my fish tank. I don’t want to kill them.

 

[Rocksor]

Your earlier statements about adding ammonia to fish already in a tank is just confusing everyone.

You do not want to increase the amount of ammonia with fish in the tank if you are trying to make sure it is cycled. The fish produce enough ammonia through their gills, no need to increase it. Add the fish, and test the ammonia and nitrites everyday with a liquid test (strips are not accurate), making sure that it doesn't go above 0.25ppm. If either ammonia or nitrite hit 0.25ppm, do a 50% water change to keep them safe.

I would also reduce feeding to every other day for one feeding until you are 100% confident that your tank is cycled. Feeding more won't make the cycle go faster or help maintain more.

 

[Sarah J]

How am I sure that the bacteria I’ve put in is still living? Can you OD on beneficial bacteria? I’ll be checking ammonia tonight again. Everything has been fine so far.