help with cycling

[laura77]

i have a new 66gal that im preparing to start cycling and i am after some advice...

firstly fish or fishless??
do i add water ager and/or conditioner during the cycle?

i set up my little tank without much knowledge of cycling and want to ensure i get this right

and anything else u think i might need to know ive read up about it a fair bit so i know the basics i just need some tips

 

[timeneverfreezes]

There are plenty of awesome threads and advice on how to properly cycle but I'll try to answer your questions. Personally I have never used the stereotypical cycle. To cycle my tanks I used established media from an existing tank or borrow some from a friend. I also add bacteria starters too the tank but nothing too expensive, the main reliance is on the est. media. Remember that conditioners usually just change the present ammonia to a form that is safe for fish while still allowing the beneficial bugs too take it out. So just de-chlorinate like you normally would when adding water.

 

[laura77]

ok so if i put my big filter into my current tank until i set up my new tank in a month and then put that into my 66 gal for a week or two i should be fine as long as i test levels and so on??

 

[timeneverfreezes]

That should be fine. From your sig it looks like you don't have extreme stocking levels and such too worry about. You can feed heavy for the time being to accumulate the BB if you want. Just test in the beginning and keep on top of your readings.

 

[laura77]

thanks so much im really attatched to all my fishies and want to do whats best for them i cant wait til my Tandy grows up he's really shy at the mo