Daily 500 gallon water changes aren't fun!
- Thread starter justonemoretank
- Start date
No change in ammonia level as of yet. It hasn't gone down, but it hasn't gone up, either. As soon as there is some kind of change in ammonia, I'll start testing nitrites.
I just thought I'd update this thread with some results. The Dr. Tim's started the pond cycling after about two or three days, which is pretty good, considering I only used a little over half of what was recommended for the total volume of the pond. One thing I'm noticing with Dr. Tim's is a marked daily change in my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. At this point, ammonia is almost completely gone (around .25). Nitrite levels are through the roof. I even have some nitrate (around 10 or 20). It's been ten days since I added the Dr. Tim's, and rather than seeing ammonia spike, then waiting for nitrite to spike, then waiting for nitrate, I'm seeing each move along more quickly than I believe I would have if I hadn't added the Dr. Tim's. The fish are showing some signs of wear, but I am monitoring closely. My red tail has a frayed tail for the first time in his life, but I know I'm close to the end, and tails heal. If anyone was ever thinking about buying Dr. Tim's, I would definitely suggest it. I can imagine if I'd had the extra couple of hundred bucks to spend, and dosed like I should have, my results would be happening even faster. So, I give a "thumbs up" to Dr. Tim's One-And-Only.
I was able to get my 1,000G up and running in 2 weeks with just some old filter media from my 100G. Old filter media would be the most ideal way to jump start new filtration.
It looks as though the tank is getting closer to be cycled. I would keep an close eye out for those nitrates to spike.
maybe just coincidence, and youll have to apply it to your scale. But just recently I did a fishless cycle on a 55 gallon aquarium. I used gravel from an older established tank, I rubbed the filter from the old tank all over both new filters and got it nice and slimy. It went slowly, until I took the filter from the other tank and put it in the filter housing of the new tank and left it there overnight. The next day nitrates appeared 2 days later cycle was over. It took 13 days to get to that point. I guess rubbing the filters together maybe just gut a bunch of the trash on it....when they were submerged together with water flow thru them I think alot more actual bacteria got transferred.
I really, really appreciate all of these suggestions, but the pond has been cycled for a few months now! Oh, well -- maybe these will help some other struggling pond-starter. For pics of the pond now, post-cycle and full o' fishies, you can check out my albums.
