Speed cycling a 100 gallon tank?

[ZEROPILOT]

I've read posts on cycling tanks to make the water safe for fishes. I have a 100 gallon bare tank that was set up and running about two weeks now. The tank was left with the filters running and a half gallon of bleach was added for one week prior to the teardown. All sustrate in both Fluval 303s. New foam filters and 90% new water 10% aged water from an established tank was then added with a shot of new tank bacteria in each filter and some also in the water. The thing is, after two weeks, the water tests good. I have a large FLOWERHORN waiting for this tank and a smaller Flowerhorn waiting for the other tank.........Is it possible that I'm good to go? Should I toss in some goldfish for a week or so? I have two fish ponds in my back yard and I can release them later. I'm hesitant to do this because of the outbreak that this same tank had that made the teardown and bleaching neccesary. I beleive it was feeder introduced. I'm getting ammonia tonight to do the droplet method. (From the cycling and you post)

 

[Skurj]

Until it can process ammonia in 24 hrs no. Add the ammonia and then test 24hrs later that will tell you if you are close.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks. Will do. It shows no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite. I understand, though. I've added ammonia.

 

[wrslrcichlid]

Well, if there is nothing producing ammonia then you will not have nitrites or nitrates. Now that you have added ammonia, there is now ammonia being "produced," so you can see what bacteria have established. If you have no ammonia, no nitrates, but see nitrates tomorrow then you should be good. Personally, I continue to test a new tank every day or so for quite a while, just to make sure everything is going well.

As for the goldfish idea, I would not do it - especially if you are not going to keep the goldfish in your tank. You should never release fish after they have been in an aquarium, even if they were originally wild caught. Even if these are man-made ponds that you keep fish in, I would not put goldfish in there. If the ponds overflow into a nearby river, creek, etc. it is likely they would survive as they are a species of carp - meaning an invasive species was just introduced.