New tank & cycling parameters

[duanes]

One thing you will learn as you gain experience, is to take "anything" a LFS employee tells you, with a grain of salt.
If your water testing shows 0.00 ppm ammonia, 0,00 ppm nitrite, and some detectable (less toxic) nitrate, it means your tank is cycled, and it also means the ceramic rings are now colonized (they both mean the same thing, its just semantics).

If starting from scratch, it normally takes 6-8 weeks to cycle a new tank (that is, to have the media colonized with enough bacteria to consume the ammonia and nitrite, the number of fish in the tank, and what waste they put out) but each tank is an individual entity, some take longer depends on the number, size and type fish(some are messier than others (gold fish are some of those later type).

I squeeze out mechanical media either, every day, or every other day. Some people might consider that anal.
But whenever (less toxic) nitrate reaches between 5-10 ppm in my tanks, I also do partial water changes dilute it.

 

[Ruturaj]

Hi! Hope you're all well. Doing another PWC later this morning & think I'm about to be cycled. Have started log book for my tank. : ))as duanes recommended.
I know I need the B&B on the filter media, so how often do I clean that filter? Tank started 1 month ago; also how long for ceramic rings to have B&B on them and be ready to use in another tank?
Just got my 20G long tank & need to set it up; then I'll have the two to test. How long will it last with 2?
Anyway, critical mission today is PWC & please let me know about filter cartridge cleaning. Love & respect from all here in Alabama and from the Fishy Five!
PeaceLoveFish✌??

Cartridges are not very efficient, I replace them with sponge. But if you do that now, you would loose some beneficial bacteria. When I replaced cartridges for a running tank with other media, I tore cartridges, took the media out, added sponge to filter, put new media with media from cartridges on top.

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Cartridges are not very efficient, I replace them with sponge. But if you do that now, you would loose some beneficial bacteria. When I replaced cartridges for a running tank with other media, I tore cartridges, took the media out, added sponge to filter, put new media with media from cartridges on top.

I do have 2 large sponge filters that came with BB in this tank as well as the HOB. Also put the c. rings (2 bags) in mesh bag in there. I was delighted to see that polyfill usually used is what you use for quilts. I use that already for quilting hobby.
I didn't think I should change filter cartridge. I'm not going to clean it yet either.
Thanks for all the info!
LovePeaceFish

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

One thing you will learn as you gain experience, is to take "anything" a LFS employee tells you, with a grain of salt.
If your water testing shows 0.00 ppm ammonia, 0,00 ppm nitrite, and some detectable (less toxic) nitrate, it means your tank is cycled, and it also means the ceramic rings are now colonized (they both mean the same thing, its just semantics).

If starting from scratch, it normally takes 6-8 weeks to cycle a new tank (that is, to have the media colonized with enough bacteria to consume the ammonia and nitrite, the number of fish in the tank, and what waste they put out) but each tank is an individual entity, some take longer depends on the number, size and type fish(some are messier than others (gold fish are some of those later type).

I squeeze out mechanical media either, every day, or every other day. Some people might consider that anal.
But whenever (less toxic) nitrate reaches between 5-10 ppm in my tanks, I also do partial water changes dilute it.

duanes:
Thanks for all the info. I think tank maybe cycled but having ammonia showing due to goldfish & their food. PWC's show the ammonia decrease & nitrates, too. Gotta go for now due to tank maintainence. Haven't had nitrite for 2-3 weeks.
And so what if you are anal? You're doing great for your fish.
LovePeaceFish

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

I do have 2 large sponge filters that came with BB in this tank as well as the HOB. Also put the c. rings (2 bags) in mesh bag in there. I was delighted to see that polyfill usually used is what you use for quilts. I use that already for quilting hobby.
I didn't think I should change filter cartridge. I'm not going to clean it yet either.
Thanks for all the info!
LovePeaceFish

And yeah about the LFS folks! A dude there keeps saying he has a flowerhorn there for sale. I don't think he knows what one is! You can tell it's about making a sale.

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Unofficial poll: how soon in tank cycle to start gravel clean? And every week after (might be too much?) or how often.
Thanks

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Hello to all & are all y'all married? If so do you have "issues" with them about getting into this new hobby?( I know it's not a marriage counsel forum) I've heard others talk of some (jealousy) bad feeling with regard to this hobby. I understand it's time-consuming & some would say expensive. However, I do like it's obvious rewards & benefits.
My SO has been very snippy; telling me (I'm no expert, but the one doing research) what to do, how to do it, and there's "I got a bad feeling about the whole thing". I think I may have made a big mistake & have no idea what to do!
I'm enjoying this immensely & good/bad am learning a lot. Anyone on what to do about SO? There's gotta be someone who has been in the doghouse with this. Most aquarists are male so I know surely there's someone with a mate who doesn't like this.
I don't like feeling this way. I also am afraid my finned children will be affected. I hate this & that it's bad enough to bring it up!
LovePeaceFish
Respectfully
THE & the Fishy Five?✌?

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Hello to all & are all y'all married? If so do you have "issues" with them about getting into this new hobby?( I know it's not a marriage counsel forum) I've heard others talk of some (jealousy) bad feeling with regard to this hobby. I understand it's time-consuming & some would say expensive. However, I do like it's obvious rewards & benefits.
My SO has been very snippy; telling me (I'm no expert, but the one doing research) what to do, how to do it, and there's "I got a bad feeling about the whole thing". I think I may have made a big mistake & have no idea what to do!
I'm enjoying this immensely & good/bad am learning a lot. Anyone on what to do about SO? There's gotta be someone who has been in the doghouse with this. Most aquarists are male so I know surely there's someone with a mate who doesn't like this.
I don't like feeling this way. I also am afraid my finned children will be affected. I hate this & that it's bad enough to bring it up!
LovePeaceFish
Respectfully
THE & the Fishy Five?✌?

I knew it: no one wants to touch this!

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Anywho, I'd like to ask a maintenance question. I want to plant live plant in current tank. Since I'll be doing a PWC, should I add new sand substrate & plant before or after the WC? (And maybe couple of corals.) It's live bio sand & don't want to suck out the BB I paid for. But it's black so I'm sure it'll cloud tank.
I was thinking this(am I correct?): Drain tank for PWC, put in black sand, add corals, plant live stuff. Then refill tank appropriately. How's that sound?you
Thanks& respect from me & the Fishy Five
LovePeaceFish?✌?

 

[Flowerhorn Gal_AL]

Anywho, I'd like to ask a maintenance question. I want to plant live plant in current tank. Since I'll be doing a PWC, should I add new sand substrate & plant before or after the WC? (And maybe couple of corals.) It's live bio sand & don't want to suck out the BB I paid for. But it's black so I'm sure it'll cloud tank.
I was thinking this(am I correct?): Drain tank for PWC, put in black sand, add corals, plant live stuff. Then refill tank appropriately. How's that sound?you
Thanks& respect from me & the Fishy Five
LovePeaceFish?✌?

Gotta go get my Pop's lunch! Be well & be safe. (There's a good vid on YT for DIY mask!)