cycling a new 55 gallon.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

mfgl

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 5, 2009
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ok, I posted a week or so ago that I was gonna reset up my tank. Its ready to fill tommorrow. I was going to seed it with some substrate and a filter from my other tank. But now Im thinking I really dont want the snail infestation that is in that tank to be in my new one....

So what should I put in there as a ammonia source? goldfish? a couple dozen feeders? once its ready a 6 inch piranha will go in there so he can eat them....or is there something better?

Fricken snails are pissing me off. If I did seed it and let it cycle for a few weeks with just goldfish in there and not much food think that would be enough to kill any snails I do transfer over?
 
So I spent the last few days getting some supplies and spent last night and today getting it set up.







Started fishless cycle, cant find my test kit so I only added a few drops of ammonia, will have to go out tommorrow and get a new tester.

I rubbed the filter from my current 10 gallon holder all over the new filters and on the bio wheels, took all the rocks from the 10 gallon, and about 6-8 cups of the gravel from there as well. Already today the bio wheels look slimy and there are lots of big bubbles forming in the folds, I assume this is a good thing.

So here it is so far. got it all setup and running yesterday but couldnt find my test kit. Went out and bought a new one today (boy have they gone up in price) got my ammonia at 4ppm. 0 nitrite so far.
 
I also added two plants that werent doing so well in my 10 gallon, I forgot I had added some salt a month or so back, I figured it cant hurt....a banana plant with no limbs, and 1 other tiny plant which had 3 leaves that had begun to yellow.
 
From the top pic , what is all the white crusty stuff around the rim part, where the hood sits on? I ask because I bought a used 75gal and it has a lot of that at the same spot. I have tried razorblades and vinegar to get it off, no luck.
 
minerals I assume, its been used for about ten years, and thats about where the water line is. It is pretty stubborn but once full you cant see it. foaming glass cleaner and steel wool will get it off, but like i said once full you cant see it so i leave it there.
 
day3.jpg


day 3, put a few more plants in and my lucky dragon. Thats pretty much it for the tank. Just waiting on cycle now. Went from 4 ppm to 1 ppm in 24 hours already so I guess its working. still no nitrites.
 
a penguin 350, and a penguin 1140 powerhead with a sponge filter arent enough for a 55 gallon tank with 1 fish?
 
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