The misinformation in this thread makes me nauseous, which is typical of any thread dealing with how to cycle a tank.
How do you guys initially cycle your monster tanks?
- Thread starter JFishNerd
- Start date
I had to start from scratch, so I basically just filled the tank and dumped a bottle of Tetra Safestart in the tank. After that, I basically did the old school way of cycling a tank, with an ammonia dose everyday. Waited about a week(9 days) for my parameters to read 0 ammonia, 0 niitrite, ~25-35nitrate, and then a 75% water change, waited a day, then lightly stocked the tank(just to be safe). I use a mix of old school tactics and new school products, honestly every person I know cycles a tank differently.
Sorry can't disagree with you more. To use the word misinformation denotes by direct implication that you have the right way and people who deviate from what you deem to be the right way are wrong.
There are so many different personal tweeks to cycling a tank that there is no total right way.
And it doesn't meant they're all right either. I've seen everything from using old water to smelling the water. Most people assume that if the fish doesn't die then their 'method' properly cycled the tank and proceed to pass along the information on the internet. Without testing the water everyday for several weeks, you don't know exactly what is going in your water.
I cycled a brand new tank with new filter media with fish several years ago. It took 6 weeks from beginning to end. It's not going to happen in 21 days with a pleco I'll tell you that right now. I tested the water every single day. Ammonia spiked to 7ppm and lasted several days. I had several ca/sa cichlids in there and they were always fine, always ate, and I never lost one. Does that mean cycling is a myth? Does that mean you can add fish from day 1 and not worry about cycling? Does that mean ammonia poisoning is overrated?
MEH!!!!!!
That is why products such as seachem stability are out there!
If you wish to wait six weeks for your tank more power to you.
With the proper amount of WC Ammonia poisoning does not happen. It is not possible because with the constant 50% WC in such a short period of time does not allow it to concentrate to the point that it can happen. At least in the case of my quick start method. Add to this the useage of Prime to assist with the quick start.
That is why products such as seachem stability are out there!
If you wish to wait six weeks for your tank more power to you.
With the proper amount of WC Ammonia poisoning does not happen. It is not possible because with the constant 50% WC in such a short period of time does not allow it to concentrate to the point that it can happen. At least in the case of my quick start method. Add to this the useage of Prime to assist with the quick start.
The Stability argument is irrelevant to what I said because it's a fairly new product and wasn't available years ago. For the record, I use Stability now because it works. Your 'quick start' method isn't really a method to cycle the tank. Your doing things to ensure the fish don't die while the tank cycles on its own. The tank isn't cycled until the bacteria in your filters says so. You don't cycle your tank by doing water changes and adding Prime.
So what is wrong with using old filter media? When my tank show up(any week now 
), I am just going to use my old filters(3 eheim 2028 running on an over stocked 100 gallon tank) and then add one more additional filter and then dump the fish in. Instant cycle 
), I am just going to use my old filters(3 eheim 2028 running on an over stocked 100 gallon tank) and then add one more additional filter and then dump the fish in. Instant cycle
So what is wrong with using old filter media? When my tank show up(any week now
Nothing. That's my preferred method when setting up a tank, especially when you're just transferring the same fish over to a new tank. There is no 'cycling' period. If you're using a little bit of established media from an old filter to set a up a new tank with a whole new stock, keep in mind you may experience a mini-cycle while the new media is seeded and the bacteria colonizes to meet the demands of the new load. So it would be a good idea to still keep an eye on ammonia levels for a few weeks.
There is no difference between using an old filter and putting gunky goodness from an old filter to seed a new filter. Since bacteria lives in substrate and on tank decor that to also helps to instant cycle a tank. Especially since nothing actually lives in the water column, the new water in the new tank is simply a large volumn water change for all intensive purposes.
I will leave off with this. Again if you wish to wait six weeks for you tank, so be it. It is your tank.
There is nothing wrong with my method of doing a instant bang up on a tank.
By the way fish who are in ammonia poisoning exhibit symptoms. Symptoms that do not show up when I fast cycle a tank.
Also mini cycles happen all the time in tanks for many different reasons.
I will leave off with this. Again if you wish to wait six weeks for you tank, so be it. It is your tank.
There is nothing wrong with my method of doing a instant bang up on a tank.
By the way fish who are in ammonia poisoning exhibit symptoms. Symptoms that do not show up when I fast cycle a tank.
Also mini cycles happen all the time in tanks for many different reasons.
