Please help. First ray into 360.

[Yanbbrox]

You know, I didn't really consider "mysterious new tank problems" as a good reason to keep the rays in the smaller tank; perhaps there is something to that idea. Thanks for the info, and we'll be using more old tank water.

It's the fastest and best way I've found to cycle any new tank, it goes against everything you try to do with any tank and has always worked for me, there is some great satisfaction dumping x gal of crap into a shiny new tank and watching the mess you make. When you start to water change the mess out after a few weeks, it feels better

 

[Kolossus]

I was gonna say the same thing regarding a 150 being larger enough for the moment. I've had four in a 120 when it was necessary. 150 is cool for now...just do frequent water changes. Good luck and take your time. Everything seems to be on the up and up and it looks like everything will be cool and you two (and the rays) will be stress free in no time.

 

[abortedsoul]

It's the fastest and best way I've found to cycle any new tank, it goes against everything you try to do with any tank and has always worked for me, there is some great satisfaction dumping x gal of crap into a shiny new tank and watching the mess you make. When you start to water change the mess out after a few weeks, it feels better

It does seem counter-intuitive to just put all of the crap into your shiny new tank, but it does make good sense. Well, we've got the Arowana and x2 Discus in there right now. I've been changing out old water and added some filter squeeze from the local trusted fish store. Looks like this should be up and running in no time at all.

I was gonna say the same thing regarding a 150 being larger enough for the moment. I've had four in a 120 when it was necessary. 150 is cool for now...just do frequent water changes. Good luck and take your time. Everything seems to be on the up and up and it looks like everything will be cool and you two (and the rays) will be stress free in no time.

We've been doing 50% water changes as necessary, but the 150 accumulates ammonia like nobody's business! Nitrites are being produced, as are Nitrates, but for some reason the filter isn't handling the bioload that is being put out by the rays. I am doing the same thing on the other tank, which is a 125, and it is more than sufficient. This will all work out as it goes along; thanks for the encouragement, and hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here!

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Nitrates are tolerable with rays, when i had mine they were living with nitrates 160ppm+ on a regular basis they are much hardier than you give them credit for. They will be fine in that 150 untill the new tank is ready

 

[African_Fever]

How long have you been keeping fish, in general? Not to be rude or anything, but I think most people who have experience with fish don't bother with test kits and essentially just get a 'feel' for how to keep their fish happy and alive, without having to use any kind of 'turbo start' gimmick. I you have one tank running, it's pretty simple and straighforward to get another running immediately using only what you already have (and if how to do that needs to be explained to you, well...). Might be an idea to slow things down a bit and ensure that you're not getting in over your heads with all the tanks, ponds, and rays that you're been acquiring lately. There is absolutely NOTHING that makes up for simple EXPERIENCE with fishkeeping; all the books and forums in the world aren't going to make up for first-hand experience and patience.

 

[ashleysomething]

How long have you been keeping fish, in general? Not to be rude or anything, but I think most people who have experience with fish don't bother with test kits and essentially just get a 'feel' for how to keep their fish happy and alive, without having to use any kind of 'turbo start' gimmick. I you have one tank running, it's pretty simple and straighforward to get another running immediately using only what you already have (and if how to do that needs to be explained to you, well...). Might be an idea to slow things down a bit and ensure that you're not getting in over your heads with all the tanks, ponds, and rays that you're been acquiring lately. There is absolutely NOTHING that makes up for simple EXPERIENCE with fishkeeping; all the books and forums in the world aren't going to make up for first-hand experience and patience.

Matt has been keeping fish since he was very small. Turbostart isn't a gimmick- it is a mixture of very select strains of efficient aerobic bacteria. I could see why you would be a bit concerned, but we're doing ok. We're aware of our level of experience with rays, which is why we communicate and experiment so much. Thanks for the advice! Sometimes when you find something you love, you just have to do your best to run with it.

 

[Miles]

maybe the water changes are preventing the bio-filter from fully establishing?

 

[ronin_man]

what do you have as filtration on this system ?

 

[tank125]

If you still have ammonia "like nobody's business" than the the tub is not cycled fully, hence the turbostart did not work as intended.

 

[African_Fever]

Matt has been keeping fish since he was very small. Turbostart isn't a gimmick- it is a mixture of very select strains of efficient aerobic bacteria. I could see why you would be a bit concerned, but we're doing ok. We're aware of our level of experience with rays, which is why we communicate and experiment so much. Thanks for the advice! Sometimes when you find something you love, you just have to do your best to run with it.

Rays aren't really a fish that takes well to experimenting - which is exactly my point about being experienced with fish in general. I don't know exactly what Matt's level of experience is with fish, but keeping a community tank or two is a lot different than running a dozen tanks (or more) and breeding multiple species. My experience with rays was zilch when I first started too (and is still zilch when compared to some on this board), but I wasn't on here every day asking what many would consider newbie fishkeeping questions every time my rays blinked.

As some have mentioned above as well, if Turbostart is really able to cycle a tank in a day as you seem to claim, then why is the ammonia still as high as it is, and why hasn't the cycle completed?

Finding something you love and running with it is great, as long as you're not jumping into a shark tank during a feeding frenzy (wow, sharks, I love sharks, yaaayyy!). My point is to just slow down and take your time, this hobby isn't meant to be stressful, it's meant to be relaxing. I can't imagine how much of a PITA changing so much water every day is, and how it will wear you of the fun in the hobby. KISS