Help with cycling

[FishRfine]

Im setting up a 220 next week. The LFS that is helping me is bringing "brown water" which is apparently used water that has bacteria in it. I am also picking up substrate when I get my fish that is from its current tank and is mature. Is it safe to add the fish within a week if there is the brown water and the mature substrate added (substrate would be added just before he is)

In case it helps, the fish is a 18-24 inch (havent seen him in a while) silver aro, who has not yet attained his adult mass. He would be the only fish added for 3 months. water changes are 30% once a week, and filtration comes from a fluval fx5 and a fluval 404 that will be added later on.

 

[FishRfine]

please can someone help me?

 

[Dr Joe]

Is the water coming from the tank the Aro was in?

Will the LFS guarantee the water to be disease free if it's not from the aro's tank?

You would be better off getting some filter material to seed your filter(s) than just water. Then do an accelerated fishless cycle with Bio Spira and ammonia. Keep checking the chemistry, should only take the 5 days.

Dr Joe

.

 

[Morledzep]

can't top Dr Joe's advice..

when i start a new tank i fill the new tank with half of the water from an established tank then top off with RO water. Switch bio wheels and one of the bio-super cartridges from the emperor 400 in the established tank and add a tube of bio-spira and let it cycle 24 hours before i add a fish. IF i have an established foam filter i'll move it too, but all the other filter media is new.

 

[Wolf3101]

Have to agree with the doc on this one. I'd shy away from anything called "brown water" THis is one of the reasons that I recomend...and use...air driven foam filters in all my tanks. When a new tanks set up I can replace the foam with new and put the established foam in the new tank for a cycling "jump start"

Like my wife said...it's nice to use the same types of filters on all the tanks. makes it simple to get established media.

 

[Bderick67]

Can only agree with what has been stated above, it would be a good idea to obtain a good quality test kit and test your water daily(since the tank will be new). Hate to see that aro die from ammonia or nitrites.

 

[Cross127]

Have to agree with the doc on this one. I'd shy away from anything called "brown water" THis is one of the reasons that I recomend...and use...air driven foam filters in all my tanks. When a new tanks set up I can replace the foam with new and put the established foam in the new tank for a cycling "jump start"

Like my wife said...it's nice to use the same types of filters on all the tanks. makes it simple to get established media.

Got a question for you Wolf. How long does your "jump starts" take to acheive a full cycle? I am asking because I am thinking about ordering some Bio-Spira from the DR.S.com but am releuctant in doing so because I am putting some established media in the new filter on the new tank. I want an instant cycle or at least close maybe 4 days.

 

[Wolf3101]

It depends on how much media...Bio-wheels and foam filters I can move.
If you can use ALL established media then you can add fish right away.

I use the term "jump start" because there is usually a smallish spike across the board for 2 or 3 days while the bio-levels match the tank load but nothing dangerious. A mini cycle if you will...

Theoriticly if you use all established media then your new tanks already cycled but I havn't found that to be completely true.

 

[Cross127]

It depends on how much media...Bio-wheels and foam filters I can move.
If you can use ALL established media then you can add fish right away.

I use the term "jump start" because there is usually a smallish spike across the board for 2 or 3 days while the bio-levels match the tank load but nothing dangerious. A mini cycle if you will...

Theoriticly if you use all established media then your new tanks already cycled but I havn't found that to be completely true.

Well I have 2- 110 new pakets of Bio-max and adding 2 cycled 110 packets. Also there are about half a gallon of bio-balls and some floss up top of the cannister. So what do think of a major spike or no? I am running a brand new Emp 400 along with my Eheim.

 

[FishRfine]

ill try to get 3 lbs of substrate and 2 bags of bio media. also, the lfs uses this water to breed their fish, and im positive it's disease free. I will be getting water from the arowanas original tank. by the way, I need an INSTANT cycle.