New setup, need help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

blkg35

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 21, 2008
408
21
48
homeless.......
I just setup a 40gal tank 2 days ago. I added all RO water and have a AC70 running on it with sponge. Yesterday I added Microbacter 7 and it turned my water cloudy and is starting to smell. So I added some charcoal to the media to help with this.
The bottle is over a year old.
I've never used bacteria in a bottle to cycle a tank before. Is this normal or is the bottle overdue and causing the cloudiness and smell?
Should I dump all the water out and try over again with ammonia to cycle the tank?
I've always cycled a tank with seeded media and water but this time I wanted to try a fishless cycle with all new water for altum angels.
Thanks!!
 
The charcoal won't do anything one way or another here. The cloudiness is typical of most bacteria in a bottle stuff, but with it being over a year old, it's quite possible that the smell and cloudiness are dead bacteria. Either way, you need to follow the directions on the bottle. Assuming the bacteria were still alive, they are living organisms and need food to survive. This means either fish in the tank, or ammonia for them to convert to nitrites then to nitrates.

For the record, RO water is not what to keep your fish in. It's what a lot of saltwater people start with for a nice base, then they add a bunch of minerals and salt in the correct amounts so everything is always the same. Without the minerals though, freshwater (or saltwater) fish cannot remain healthy.

At this point, I'd drain the tank, refill with treated tap water and begin a fish-less cycle with bottled ammonia. Bacteria-in-a-bottle are fine to assist that cycle, but there still needs to be one.
 
fish need one thing and thats water. just keep it simple. no aquamax water clarifying b12 formula or some B.S. the only thing i used is dechlorinator ONLY for 90% changes. that also makes my water smell like bacon so i try not to use it. :)
 
Thanks for the response guys. I'm going to drain the tank and start over again.
I think the smell and cloudiness was from the dead bacteria. I'll just cycle using ammonia and seachem stability.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom