Need help cycling my 150 tank

[phamtommy]

hi there,

can anyone help me with cycling my 150g tank?

i have some old sponge from my gold fish tank that i can use. however should i also put my gold fish in too?

i have 5 gold fishes, is that enough?

when should i check for ammonia?

 

[popcorn1]

if youre getting a new filter then have the old filter and new filter running at the same time and throw in the goldfish because they will most probably survive. you need to have ammonia for filter to break down or else the bacteria wont have anything to eat

 

[ohiodave]

Go buy 100 comets from LFS about 10 bucks, put them in feed daily in a couple weeks test amonia levels. If at zero I do a big water change and start adding fish slowly. I've done it this way a hundred times. If you have enough old filter media you could quick start it that way. I believe patience is the best way if you are going to add prized fish to the tank.

The goldfish become great feeders after you gutload them for a few weeks