Discus Tank cycling guidance please

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sushiray

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 11, 2009
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new windsor/cormwall, ny
What is the preferred method to cycle a new 72gal bowfront tank using an AC110 & sponge filter? I am aging my water w/o any dechlor or conditioners at this point. should I use any cycle products, if so - what do you recommend? should I use tetra brackish solution? right now the tank is bear - thinking of adding 1 or 2pcs of driftwood. any other recommendations also welcomed. thks all!

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i have a 72g bow and i never ever use chemicals it takes about about 1 week for that size tank to be it fish safe and dechlorinated make sure a power head is breaking the surface i think your ac110 might do the job but a aerator couldn't hurt Add the driftwood defiantly. softens the water and it will be better then some cycling product.

Discus are so damn fragile Id Let your tank run for at least a month with the driftwood in so it can stabilize if your using no chemicals..
 
One week to be fish safe:screwy:

Unless you add any type bottled bacteria or seed the tank with established media, it will take about 5 weeks to cycle your tank

This is a good link to information regarding the nitrogen cycle in aquariums;

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
 
What are you putting in it? IE young discus? If so you really don't have to cycle it just do daily water changes.
 
If you have another tank up and running, just put your bio media or sponge filters in that tank for a couple of weeks to be seeded with bacteria and you won't have to cycle your new tank. You will be in effect putting cycled bio filters in there. I haven't cycled a tank in many years. I keep extra bio in my sumps at all times for this purpose. Screw cycling tanks! :D
 
thx every1 4 the info link & feedback. in a month or so I am looking 2buy discus stendker juvies (10-15 online) or malaysian import juvies (from local seller). I am running AC110 on an aged tank already so maybe I can just transfer this to the bow tank? And just replace my aged tank with another AC110? & add the sponge filter 2trf later also.

besides couple pieces of driftwood - thinking of placing couple of broken slates & cracked red earthen flower pots - that ok?

how about some floating plants? any suggestions? I was also thinking some banana plants?

& looking to buy more albino corys (or start w/ albino lyretail corys) from Redkahuna 4 the discus tank. I already have 11 babes now.

& also - I have heard many suggest BN plecos - any special reason why that is preferred vs. all the other type of plecos? I've been eyeing a royal & some other non-regular plecos. any suggestions or cautions?

& how about algae eaters - would like 2add a baby brown & a baby albino.

& some say angels ok, some say not ok. I wanted 2move 2 or 3 juvies (size of 1/2 $ to $ size) from my current tank in w/ the discus but not a necessity. but maybe not cuz they are voracious eaters (flakes) & poop a lot.

so thks again 4your time & feedback.
 
Why not run both AC 110's on your aged tank until you get your discus? If you just swap them, you'll still have one filter that is uncycled. I think people add BNs because they help clean up uneaten food as well as algae, and stay small. If you get young discus, you'll want to raise them to adult size in a bare bottom tank, otherwise, they will likely stunt and remain small. Growing discus are very sensitive to water quality. Once they reach maturity, they are more tolerant of water conditions, and then can be placed safely in planted or show type tanks with other species of fish without screwing up their growth. I suggest reading everything you can about discus before you buy your fish, it will keep you from making costly mistakes later.
 
hillbilly;3181530; said:
Why not run both AC 110's on your aged tank until you get your discus? If you just swap them, you'll still have one filter that is uncycled. I think people add BNs because they help clean up uneaten food as well as algae, and stay small. If you get young discus, you'll want to raise them to adult size in a bare bottom tank, otherwise, they will likely stunt and remain small. Growing discus are very sensitive to water quality. Once they reach maturity, they are more tolerant of water conditions, and then can be placed safely in planted or show type tanks with other species of fish without screwing up their growth. I suggest reading everything you can about discus before you buy your fish, it will keep you from making costly mistakes later.
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o Great idea on AC110's. I will use both to cycle.
o So BN's are preferred (not one of my favorites) but no other pleco substitutes?
o I am going bare bottom, so you discourage placing flower pots and/or slates for the time being, till they grow out more?
o I have been reading from different forums which have been quite helpful with their stickies & feedback, these are just a few specific Q?'s I was looking into.

thks again Hillbilly.
 
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