this is a new tank set-up there were never fish, the heater is set at 78, i have a test kit, just bout it when i got the tank
i need help, cycling has me stumped
- Thread starter champlin42
- Start date
OK good...set the heater to 86-88fchamplin42;2377994; said:
What are the actual dimensions of the tank?
how long has the set up been up and running? So far with nothing to feed the tank ammonia, you BB will not grow. Do a search on here for a fishless cycle, there have been many postings on this.
It sounds like this has been a "process" for you. You have been patiently waiting for the levels to normalize before you attempt to add livestock. This a noble thing.
At this point you have two options.
1) The least popular with "hardcore" aquarist is to add fish and change/ monitor water levels for the time it takes for your tank to cycle.
2) Fishless cycle which includes adding controlled amounts of pure ammonia to the water so the filter/tank will cycle.
Here is where I get myself in trouble:
I have been keeping tanks for well over 10 years. Never have I ever done a fishless cycle until recently and to my recollection, I have never lost a fish in a "new" set-up.
Whichever route you take, use the resource of this site. Search "cycling a new tank."
There are some very experienced and intelligent people on here that would love to assist you through this. Although a few seem to be judgemental, 99.999% would love to give you a positive, guided path to success.
Good luck and keep your head up.
At this point you have two options.
1) The least popular with "hardcore" aquarist is to add fish and change/ monitor water levels for the time it takes for your tank to cycle.
2) Fishless cycle which includes adding controlled amounts of pure ammonia to the water so the filter/tank will cycle.
Here is where I get myself in trouble:
I have been keeping tanks for well over 10 years. Never have I ever done a fishless cycle until recently and to my recollection, I have never lost a fish in a "new" set-up.
Whichever route you take, use the resource of this site. Search "cycling a new tank."
There are some very experienced and intelligent people on here that would love to assist you through this. Although a few seem to be judgemental, 99.999% would love to give you a positive, guided path to success.
Good luck and keep your head up.
1st off, go and raise the temperature of the tank to 85f. Bacteria thrives at temperatures above 80f. so to be sure we want 85f...
next;
You're going to need some Ammonia.
You might already have what you need under the sink.
You want PURE Ammonia, no dyes, no sented stuff, no soap...take the bottle and shake it up. It should be water clear and the bubbles will settle out in just a few seconds. If it stays foamy, it's not the right stuff.
when those two things are done, post the actual dimensions of your tank and we can get started...
next;
You're going to need some Ammonia.
You might already have what you need under the sink.
You want PURE Ammonia, no dyes, no sented stuff, no soap...take the bottle and shake it up. It should be water clear and the bubbles will settle out in just a few seconds. If it stays foamy, it's not the right stuff.
when those two things are done, post the actual dimensions of your tank and we can get started...
