How to cycle a tank very quickly? Is it even possible?

[Kashif314]

I had bought tanks before which had established filter media but I bought a new 5 feet in length tank and want to cycle the tank and want it to cycle very quick. I don't have any established media now so I have to start from scratch.

Can anyone please tell me is there any product available in market that can cycle a tank instantly within very few days. I see some products like Seachem stability and used it before after a water change but don't know if it can help in cycling that fast as I expect. Please let me know if there is some product or something that can help the tank to fast very quickly.

Thanks.

 

[headbanger_jib]

If you have a running tank, add half the filter media from the running tank to the new tank along with new media. Add some small fish so that the old BB get food in the new tank and grow, a week from then and you're good to go.

 

[Oughtsix]

Go to your local fish store and ask for dirty filter media. That will be be much more effective than anything you can buy in a bottle.

 

[Kashif314]

If you have a running tank, add half the filter media from the running tank to the new tank along with new media. Add some small fish so that the old BB get food in the new tank and grow, a week from then and you're good to go.

Go to your local fish store and ask for dirty filter media. That will be be much more effective than anything you can buy in a bottle.

Thanks. So if I get dirty filter media how shall I use it? Squeeze it in new tank water? Also if I get some water from an existing tank I ll be needing so much water because its a 5 feet long tank so not sure how I can carry such water to home from store. Things like Seachem stability is pure beneficial bacteria. That won't help?

 

[kno4te]

Thanks. So if I get dirty filter media how shall I use it? Squeeze it in new tank water? Also if I get some water from an existing tank I ll be needing so much water because its a 5 feet long tank so not sure how I can carry such water to home from store. Things like Seachem stability is pure beneficial bacteria. That won't help?

Trying to get bacteria to seed onto media. Adding media with bacteria on it already will instantly get u cycled. Just check the water to make sure. Add the media to ur filter/sump. Don’t squeeze into the tank.

 

[Kashif314]

Trying to get bacteria to seed onto media. Adding media with bacteria on it already will instantly get u cycled. Just check the water to make sure. Add the media to ur filter/sump. Don’t squeeze into the tank.

Thanks dear. But if I get like just a small piece of media like spnge or something will that be enough for the 5 feet length tank? Also please tell me the vital tests I need to buy. The API kit comes with so many tests which ll not be needing. I can buy necessary tests separately so please advise. Thanks.

 

[headbanger_jib]

Thanks dear. But if I get like just a small piece of media like spnge or something will that be enough for the 5 feet length tank? Also please tell me the vital tests I need to buy. The API kit comes with so many tests which ll not be needing. I can buy necessary tests separately so please advise. Thanks.

Yes a sponge from a cycled tank filter would be sufficient.

Nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are the three tests you would need

 

[tlindsey]

Purchase the Freshwater Master test kit.

 

[Oughtsix]

I would take the whole chunk of sponge, floss or pad and put it in the intake of your new filter so plenty of tank water flows through it. Ammonia rich water + oxygen + good water flow through bacteria rich media should be the fastest way to cycle your new tank. You are taking the small colony of bacteria on the dirty media and trying to make it propagate as quick as possible. Just squeezing the dirty media into your new tank water will not be nearly as effective as putting the dirty media into the water flow. Bacteria clings to surfaces, there will be much more bacteria clinging to the surfaces of the dirty media than you will be able to squeeze out of the dirty media.

There will be some bacteria suspended in the water column of an established tank... but it will be a very tiny fraction of the bacteria clinging to the surfaces of the dirty media.

The size of the new tank is irrelevant. It is the bio-load in the tank that determines how large of a colony of bacteria will be needed to break down the waste ammonia via the nitrogen cycle into nitrates in a timely manner.

 

[tlindsey]

I would take the whole chunk of sponge, floss or pad and put it in the intake of your new filter so plenty of tank water flows through it. Ammonia rich water + oxygen + good water flow through bacteria rich media should be the fastest way to cycle your new tank. You are taking the small colony of bacteria on the dirty media and trying to make it propagate as quick as possible. Just squeezing the dirty media into your new tank water will not be nearly as effective as putting the dirty media into the water flow. Bacteria clings to surfaces, there will be much more bacteria clinging to the surfaces of the dirty media than you will be able to squeeze out of the dirty media.

There will be some bacteria suspended in the water column of an established tank... but it will be a very tiny fraction of the bacteria clinging to the surfaces of the dirty media.

The size of the new tank is irrelevant. It is the bio-load in the tank that determines how large of a colony of bacteria will be needed to break down the waste ammonia via the nitrogen cycle into nitrates in a timely manner.

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