speed up cycling

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franlovera

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 12, 2009
162
0
0
Argentina
Hi,

I was wondering for how long I would have to add an established tank's filter media to my tank in order to speed up the cycle? Is it better if I add gravel from a cycled tank algo?

thanks
 
No tank cycles the same, and can take different amounts of time. Generally it can take anywhere from 1 week to over a month. Adding gravel from the cycled tank is also a big benefit, and will speed up the cycle greatly. Just make sure your seeding from a clean tank. What are you using as an ammonia source? What size tank? What are your current water parameters? How long has the tank been setup? And what kind of filter are you using?
 
I set the tank up about 3 weeks ago but I did not know about the nitrogen cycle so I had an ich infection followed by fin rot that ended up killing a lot of fishes. Only 2 mollyies and an angelfish survived. I have a 16 gallon tank with a cascade (hang on) filter. Also, I will buy tomarrow the test kit to see how the water is doing. I can't go today because here in argentina it is a holiday today.
 
Ok. Get back to us tomorrow. You never know, it might already be cycled. Is the water still cloudy? And what did you do to get rid of the fin rot and ich?
 
Well, fin rot im having a case currently but i think its due to the stress of the bad water quality. I used a product from Argentina. It says it cures ich in 2 days but i read it was impossible to cure it so fast. So I repeated the treatment for 6 days.

Ok, tomarrow ill post the water readings and see how much it has cycled.

however I doubt it cycled because I had cleaned the filter with hot water and used a gravel cleaner so I doubt much has been accomplished.
 
Supposing that the cycle started today, and I were to add gravel and filter media from a cycled tank, For how long would I have to have this in my tank before returning it?
 
Can't really say for sure, but for me it's usually cycled in 1-2 weeks. You have to check your water params regularly. API makes a great test kit.
 
It also depends how much mature media you add. If you add quite a lot then I have added a few fish right away. I then just regularly test the water and as long as it stays on zero ammonia and nitrite I slowly add more fish after a week of so.
 
yeah, i agree with all above - my fish used to always get ich, i put garlic in and volia! It workes on my peacock eel and clown loach at least...
 
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