Just got my 600 plywood tank up and running, I researched cycling and was unsure of which method to go with. A friend of mine said to dumb some quick start in their and add goldfish. Its been 2 days now, I have about 60 goldfish in their, they are looking healthy and eating fine. Just wondering where to go from here, being I used quick start should I be doing any water changes or just let the tank fun for a few weeks first. Im also using K1 which takes longer to hold bacteria. Any advice or opinions are appreciated.
Question about cycling large tank
- Thread starter Niners4952
- Start date
I actually suggest Seachem Stability, which helps with bacteria growth. Truthfully, when I moved my 120 tank to my 270, I just grabbed 2 bags/netting of ceramic rings n that was it. I used half old tank water and new water to fill the 270. But yeah a tank that big, I would just slowly add fish in and have the bacteria grow steady with the new sources of ammonia. I say 2 weeks is good?
Never used quick start and didnt have any luck with stability. Tetra safe start has never failed me.
You wanna read up on the quick start though because wirh the safestart your not supposed dose with prime or any other water conditioner for 24 hrs before adding it. Keep checking your levels.
You wanna read up on the quick start though because wirh the safestart your not supposed dose with prime or any other water conditioner for 24 hrs before adding it. Keep checking your levels.
A 600 gallon tank, and you wanna use additives to cycle it? That'll be pricey. And good luck netting 60 goldfish out of a 600 gallon tank. That's a big tank, plenty of room for them to evade the net.
Where to go from here--buy a big net, and some plastic egg crate looking panels from the fluorescent light section of HD/Lowe's. You'll want to make a divider that fits the inside of the tank to corral all those goldfish into a smaller area where you can net 'em out.
As for cycling, just buy some ammonia drops, and a test kit, and keep the ammonia levels up and let bacteria just grow naturally. May take a little longer, but it's MUCH cheaper than dosing 600 gallons of water.
Or, get some media from an established aquarium filter and drop it in your sump with your K1 for a month or so.
do this, without the "live bacteria". http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/how-to-start
Buy this, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...mpid=03cseYY&gclid=CK2vwcj_9cwCFdU7gQodYTIPKQ
Notice how cheap it is compared to live bacteria products and such. It just takes a little longer.
Do you have a smaller tank than the 600 gallon? That'll probably come in handy at some point, too.
Where to go from here--buy a big net, and some plastic egg crate looking panels from the fluorescent light section of HD/Lowe's. You'll want to make a divider that fits the inside of the tank to corral all those goldfish into a smaller area where you can net 'em out.
As for cycling, just buy some ammonia drops, and a test kit, and keep the ammonia levels up and let bacteria just grow naturally. May take a little longer, but it's MUCH cheaper than dosing 600 gallons of water.
Or, get some media from an established aquarium filter and drop it in your sump with your K1 for a month or so.
do this, without the "live bacteria". http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/resources/how-to-start
Buy this, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...mpid=03cseYY&gclid=CK2vwcj_9cwCFdU7gQodYTIPKQ
Notice how cheap it is compared to live bacteria products and such. It just takes a little longer.
Do you have a smaller tank than the 600 gallon? That'll probably come in handy at some point, too.
I cycled my 500g with pre-seeded media in canisters that were running on another tank for a couple of months, added Seachem stability for 7 days, added fish after that, gradually stocking up from a quarantine tank over a period of about a month.
I do have 2 more tanks both have fluval fx5 canisters on them, I could add half new media to each and put the rest in my first barrel. I have a 3 55 gallon drum filter system. I do agree its pricey adding the quick start and maybe a combo of the goldfish some quick start and old media would do the trick
I'd just use the established media and gold fish. Shouldnt take too long. Then do as the other suggested and add your stock slowly
Just do old media, and whatever fish you really want to have in the tank if you have old media.