cycling a new tank

[azzbackwards]

whats everyones tried and proven method to setting up a new tank on a whim. i know i could set one up and wait the 30+ days like i should but im impatient and more times than not im picking up fish i wasnt planning on and having to set up a new tank to house it. here is what i usually do and has worked 9 times out of 10

fill tank with water from other tanks. i pull sponge filters from other tanks that are already established

i usually run two HOB or mult. can fillters on each tank as well so i will pull one of them and place on new tank.

i will only add one fish to start and pour half a btl of beneficial bacteria in the tank.

i will avoid feeding that tank for 3 days. 3rd day i will do a 30% wc and add BB again..half a btl

after a week ill add another fish, i will feed a tiny tiny bit.

a few days later ill do another 30% wc. all along i will be testing parameters. if there are any signs of ammonia i will do a small wc

i feel the key is not to add to many fish at once. avoid feeding too much, the mult. water changes/wc and adding established sponges to the new set up

i would like to hear others opinions on this

 

[joe jaskot]

I've quickly cycled many tanks. I just add live aquarium plants to the tank. Plants like najas, hornwort, java moss, java fern, duckweed, etc. These plants have lots of surface area and are covered with beneficial bacteria. In addition the plants will use the ammonia and nitrite that is in the tank.

 

[Pycnotic]

I always run a HOB filter on my big tank that will be used in an emergency situation, I also will transfer plants and decorations when I have to run my hospital/timeout tank

 

[convict360]

I have redundancy sponges that I always have running in established tanks.

Simple case of remove sponge, chuck it in the new tank; in the established tank a new identical sponge is inserted, to take its place and also become seeded

 

[pops]

to start from scratch I am lazy, bagged raw shelled jumbo shrimp, turn the filters on and walk away. change 50 percent water once a week, by 6 weeks everything is starting to click by week 8 time to remove the shrimp change the water and add fish.

 

[srt4geezer]

Just threw up a little

 

[pops]

if you must, its works just fine and tank does not take to getting nastie as you may be thinking. By a bag in mean 2 or 3 tales in a bio bag. not the hole dang bag of shrimp.

 

[pops]

they get all fuzzy as the bacteria breaks down the protein, releasing ammonia and sparking cycling process, as it continues to break down the shrimp it continues to release ammonia feeding the nitrate cycle as it cycles up, really no dif than adding fish food a few times a week to cycle and do not have to worry about measuring pure ammonia. I have done it a few times, it works just fine, again the lazy mans way.

 

[fishnatics]

What I do that works for me is I run multiple canisters. I simply just take one that's established and put it on the new tank and transfer some sand over. Put the new filter on old tank to seed it. Add my new fish and done.

 

[pops]

There is no argument, best way to cycle a tank is put seeded media, or a filter on the tank, instant cycle.

just stating what I do from scratch.