Tank cycling and water changes, opinions...

[dexman1349]

I just put a few fish into my 180 to start cycling the tank. I know this will take some time, while the bio-balls and system cycle through. On every (established) tank I've owned, I'll do a bi-weekly water change (mostly to vacuum the gravel). I can never remember what is best as far as water changes during the cycling process and I have never cycled a tank larger than a 55 (no changes for a month, daily changes, I don't know).

My gut says leave the tank alone and just test the water parameters regularly and once the amonia and nitrites have zeroed out, then it is safe to introduce more fish. I would do a water change if needed to help level out the amonia and nitrite spikes.

Advice anyone?

 

[Ianab]

My gut says leave the tank alone and just test the water parameters regularly and once the amonia and nitrites have zeroed out, then it is safe to introduce more fish. I would do a water change if needed to help level out the amonia and nitrite spikes.

My gut says the same thing

Let the water tests be your guide. Doing more water changes than are needed during cycling will just slow down the cycle, but if you do get more than a trace of ammonia or nitrite you can control that with water changes.

Once you see the nitrates rising then you can start routine water changes as needed.

Cheers

Ian

 

[janev]

My gut says the same thing

Let the water tests be your guide. Doing more water changes than are needed during cycling will just slow down the cycle, but if you do get more than a trace of ammonia or nitrite you can control that with water changes.

Once you see the nitrates rising then you can start routine water changes as needed.

Cheers

Ian

Ianab is correct in my book.
I would not do any water changes, let your ammonia & nitrites spike and let the tank level it self out.

If you change water, you will dramatically slow your cycling down, the bacteira that processes the ammonia & nitrites are slow growers.

Don't put any expensive fish in the tank till after you tank is cycled and add them slowly.

With new tanks it takes lots of patience to let it cycle.

You could help the cycling by putting some bio balls, filter pads, substrate from a cycled tank into your new tank to culture the good bacteria faster.

Hope this helps.

Congrats on your new 180 gal tank.

 

[dexman1349]

Thanks guys. I've combined the fish out of a 10 gallon and a 30 gallon tanks (both used while I got the 180 put together), and I used the water from both as well as attached both HOB filters to help speed up the cycling process. I am keeping all of my more expensive and favorite fish in a seperate 55 until everything cycles.

Thanks again
-Keith

 

[ziggy2]

Just remember that you will only build BB equal to the load you put on the tank. That is why I like the fishless cycle. Don't change the water while cycling.

 

[Ianab]

If you have moved an already cycled filter into the new tank along with the fish then the tank will be part cycled already

As long as you dont increase the fish numbers too fast you may not even measure an ammonia buildup.

Cheers

Ian

 

[dexman1349]

Every small tank I've cycled (55 and under) were done with a small school of BA tetras. Then after about 2 weeks I'll add the first few small ciclids, and add 2-3 more bi-weekly until I have the stock I want. Usually, by the time I have all the ciclids I want in the tank, the tetras have been picked off one by one.

I know I can cycle the tank w/o fish, but I'm just not that patient. I prefer to have something swimming around for a bit (even if it's just a school of tetras).