Speed Cycle for a 240 gal?

[Dr Joe]

I just bought a 240 long. I will be filtering it with a Fluval FX5 and two emperor 400's for now, might add another canister. I will be stocking it with fish from established tanks I have.
My Aro-Tub has a MAG 350 on it that has been running awhile, if I put that on the 240 will that establish the other filters quickly? Since my arowana is already in the tank with the 350.....wouldn't that help him acclimate to his new home?
Is that cycle stuff worth a crap? What else should I do?
I've been wanting this tank for so long!! IMPATIENT!!
stndfsh

So what you are saying is that the tank itself needs to cycle not just the filters? So if you put established filters onto a new tank it won't be automatically cycled? I thought it would be kinda like a huge water change....if you conditioned the water properly your filters would be golden.

The two 400's and the FX5 will be here tomorrow, but the tank won't be here until October 6 when glasscages comes to Atlanta. If I put the filters on my tanks that are up and running, that'll get me a head start, right?
stndfsh

No, you cycle the filters like I said.

That's not what you said (up top).

If you start the new filters in an established tank, you can get a head start, BUT, don't forget this established tank was running fine on the old filter system so there won't be much nutrients for the new filters to feed on, so adding B.B. in the old tank is not very meaningful.

There's about a 2 day lag in bacteria formation (growth) when more nutrients are available, but an ammonia spike can screw up everything in a half hour, that's why we say to take it slow.

Ianab, CHOMPERS, & Wolf3101 got it going

Dr Joe

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[Dr Joe]

If I hook my FX5 onto my 55gal will it suck the scales clean off of my fish?
stndfsh

I just had a mental picture of the fish getting it's scales hoovered off .

 

[Mystix212]

In the early days of the cycling, I would pee (Literally) in the tank. Considering this 'liquid' is almost pure ammonia, its dead cheap and you can use it whenever. BB love ammonia thus will accept it fast. Therefore will multiply quickly, and may shorten your cycling period.

You can also grab as many dirty filter cartridges from otgher filters and clean them in the cycling tank. Heaps of BB are then thrown into the new tank.

 

[Dr Joe]

In the early days of the cycling, I would pee (Literally) in the tank. Considering this 'liquid' is almost pure ammonia, its dead cheap and you can use it whenever. BB love ammonia thus will accept it fast. Therefore will multiply quickly, and may shorten your cycling period.

You can also grab as many dirty filter cartridges from otgher filters and clean them in the cycling tank. Heaps of BB are then thrown into the new tank.

Not even close (if it was, boy would you be in pain!). Yes, it has worked for some people...could even be argued the you're adding some trace elements too... but you are unable to calculate/measure specific quantities to balance the tanks filtration growth. Pure ammonia is cheap and measurable.

Plus...Eeuuuwwwww.

Dr Joe

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