Looking for suggestions - peaceful tankmates - large tank!

[LT Connell]

I am looking for suggestions. Here's the story:
1. We have a 300g freshwater tank that we tried to do a fishless cycle on - nothing was happening.
2. LFS suggested that we needed something IN the tank to make it cycle - we bought 10 White Skirt Tetras, at their suggestion - nothing! No Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates.
3. We ADDED some of the media from our 75g gallon tank to the sump, placed one of the decorations from the 75g in the 300g and waited. Nothing!
4. LFS suggested that "maybe" the Tetras weren't producing enough waste to move the needle. We then put 3 Blue Acaras in with the Tetras. Our ultimate goal was to eventually move the Tetras over to the 75g, but we haven't had much luck catching them in such a large tank - turns out they move very quickly!
5. Week later, still no readings! We eventually want to put 5 clown loaches in this tank (one currently residing in the 75g); however, we cannot get the tank to cycle!

LFS suggested that fish could be added each week until the tank stabilizes (assuming ammonia and nitrites remain at zero). Our dilemma is WHAT can we add that won't eat the Tetras? Future plans were for Severums and Angel Fish (don't know how hardy they are though).

OR, is there another way we can make this tank do what it's supposed to do??? I am waiting impatiently for a Nitrate reading! Don't beat me up for putting fish in a tank that hasn't cycled. I'm checking parameters every day and am prepared to react to protect the welfare of the fish.

 

[Backfromthedead]

So how long have you had the tank cycling? What exactly are your readings? I think your bacteria are starved and a lot may have been wiped out from the shock of all that pristine water. This is why i like to add some used tank water when i start new tanks. Some may say its not needed but Ive noticed the tanks stabilize quicker this way.

If youre not reading toxic levels of anything go ahead and add some fish. Im sure its safe by now. You'll probably experience some bacteria blooms and whatnot but thats normal.

 

[LT Connell]

So how long have you had the tank cycling? What exactly are your readings? I think your bacteria are starved and a lot may have been wiped out from the shock of all that pristine water. This is why i like to add some used tank water when i start new tanks. Some may say its not needed but Ive noticed the tanks stabilize quicker this way.

If youre not reading toxic levels of anything go ahead and add some fish. Im sure its safe by now. You'll probably experience some bacteria blooms and whatnot but thats normal.

Going on for almost a month. My readings on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are zero. Temp 79, ph 7.5 ish. Water is very hard (nothing I can do about that. We live in Florida on a well).

No problem adding more fish just don't know who won't eat the tetras.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Going on for almost a month. My readings on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are zero. Temp 79, ph 7.5 ish. Water is very hard (nothing I can do about that. We live in Florida on a well).

No problem adding more fish just don't know who won't eat the tetras.

Well i keep blackskirts myself similar to your whiteskirts. They get to a good size so they can habitate with a lot of sa cichlids, just nothing too predatory.

No oscars. Oscars will eat them.

Severum sized cichlids and smaller should be fine though.

 

[cockroach]

Take the sponges/filter media/whatever you have in the 75gal. Wash/clean them in the 300gal tank. That gunk that comes out is the new black gold.
Do a 50% water change on your 75gal and add that water to your 300gal. Add a school of 10-15 dithers you want and it should go.

I have used this method for years and Cory from Aquarium Co-op has suggested it on some of his videos as well.

Good luck and keep us updated.

PS. A pic of the tank would not hurt now would it? lol

 

[Brettnewell4454]

Need lots of waste fast? Goldfish to the rescue. Get the big ones that dont swim well and you'll catch them no problem

 

[Galantspeedz]

liquid test or paper test

 

[LT Connell]

liquid test or paper test

I use both. Have the API freshwater kit

 

[Galantspeedz]

Throw some frozen food inside to let it decompose then

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

If your ammonia reading is zero then you will never get the tank cycled. You have to add ammonia to the tank so that it can be processed into nitrite, and then into nitrate. In order to do a fishless cycle, you have to get pure ammonia from the hardware store and add it to the tank at a concentration of 4ppm. It will sit there for 4-6 weeks. Then, it will start being processed into nitrite, which you will see on your testing. Several weeks after that, the nitrite will start to be processed into nitrate. However, you have to keep adding ammonia to the tank as it is processed into nitrite. Otherwise, the bacteria that turn ammonia into nitrite will starve and die off while the other bacteria grow. The whole process could take up to 12 weeks.