So should i use the conditioner i mentioned earlier or just go and buy the bacteria in a bottle tomorrow?
Introducing fish into tank.
- Thread starter Cheesetian
- Start date
Poklei;4581743; said:
depends on what fish you threw in and if you are using old media with bacteria already growing in it. when i first started, i didnt cycle my tank and threw in 4 fishes...needless to say, they didnt last a week.
if you can get your hands on an older filter media, wring/squeeze it to get all the bacteria into your tank. cheaper than buying bacteria in a bottle. put some dither fish for a few days. ammonia/nitrate/nitrite spiked after 2-4 days and cleared up after 2 days. been good ever since. my first tank took me a month when i didnt use any added bacteria.
Like many others have said, fill the tank, treat it and let it cycle for a couple days. After that, though, you should be good. Don't need to much.
Just cycle it a few days and throw some cheap fish in there. If they survive, you should be good to go. However, the more expensive the fish you want to put in there, the longer you should let the feeders sit in there, just to make sure everything's fine.
I know it's not a huge tank, but I let my 55 gallon cycle for a day and a half. Put my oscar and a senegal bichir in there immediately and they both were fine. Oscar's alive and healthy but I gave the bichir to a friend.
Just cycle it a few days and throw some cheap fish in there. If they survive, you should be good to go. However, the more expensive the fish you want to put in there, the longer you should let the feeders sit in there, just to make sure everything's fine.
I know it's not a huge tank, but I let my 55 gallon cycle for a day and a half. Put my oscar and a senegal bichir in there immediately and they both were fine. Oscar's alive and healthy but I gave the bichir to a friend.
bacteria converts ammonia into nitrite then becomes nitrate
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
KnifefishFan;4582160; said:
Thanks for the link man, really. I totally understand how the cycling process works now. Thumbs up on your advice and everybody else's input, really thank you guys!
Cheesetian;4581671; said:
No need to do that. Just run the filter and let your tank cycle and it should all be good.
For the sake of being humane DO NOT FISH CYCLE! Set up the tank with Stress coat and Stability throw in a piece of Prawn or fish food check your levels daily wait for NO Ammonia NO Nitrite and Just Nitrate THEN add fish you want in there...If you dont want to risk it AFTER your Ammonia and Nitrite go to 0 add some dither fish. Afterwards use Prime with your Water Changes 50% once a week
Darth Scohin;4582596; said:
^^^Finally some good advice!
I was surprised that no one even mentioned testing the water before this!
Invest in a good liquid test kit! Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH (at least).
Wait until your tank has fully cycled before you add your fish. Ammonia will spike first, then Nitrites will spike, then once you have zero ammonia and nitrites, your tank is cycled. This will take a few weeks if you do as above^^. If you want to speed it up to a couple of days, get some live filter media (ie: gunky, bacteria filled) from someone's running filter.
You don't need to use any chemicals except for Prime, and this only for water changes. If you add chemicals you're not going to achieve a natural balance and your pH, ammonia levels, etc. could yo-yo, stressing your fish.
