Tank cycling

MaelStrom · 06-30-2007, 09:12 PM

When I get my tank( within the week hopefully

) as you know I have to cycle it. If I take gravel from my friends established tank do I still have to cycle it? Should I just do the normal cycling process as if I never got it and just wait till ammonia and nitraites hit 0?

rcomeau · 06-30-2007, 10:03 PM

Taking gravel from the established tank is a good idea to get bacteria to 'seed' the tank. You will still need to cycle it by feeding the bacteria with an ammonia source until a large enough colony is grown to handle the fish load. In other words, a cycled tank isn't just getting ammonia to hit 0. It has to be able to keep it at 0 with a constant source of ammonia such as fish.

**SueM** · 07-01-2007, 06:07 AM

Sinse you have a friend with an astablished tank, see if you can get some "unwashed" filter media as well as the gravel (keep it wet & warm during transit). Then add a few hardy fish and not worry about it. Give it a couple weeks and start adding fish a couple at a time.

MaelStrom · 07-01-2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks. What do you guys suggest for some hardy fish just to get it started?

mousey · 07-02-2007, 09:47 AM

black skirt tetras, zebra danios.

judya · 07-02-2007, 10:54 AM

I wouldn't get "Special" fish to cycle it. Just tell us what fish you plan to keep, and we can suggest which of them are more hardy, and can be used in your cycling program. If you only get a few fish at a time, and gradually stock over a many month time frame, the tank will cycle naturally. The live gravel will definitely help. Otherwise, you can use the fishless cycle, and do it quicker.
Just be aware that even after it is cycled, when you add more fish, it will still need time for the bacteria to catch up to the new load.

fishbguy · 07-02-2007, 11:48 AM

^^^^^^^
that's my suggestion

MaelStrom · 07-02-2007, 12:10 PM

I plan on getting
2 apistos
4 dario dario
6 harlequin rasboras
4 Steel-blue lyretail killis( Fundolopanchax gardneri)
a dozen red cherry shrimp

judya · 07-03-2007, 10:46 AM

In this case start with the rasboras (least expensive, so replacement costs, if any, won't be so high) and killies. Apistos last.

06-30-2007, 09:12 PM	#1
MaelStrom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 374	Tank cycling When I get my tank( within the week hopefully ) as you know I have to cycle it. If I take gravel from my friends established tank do I still have to cycle it? Should I just do the normal cycling process as if I never got it and just wait till ammonia and nitraites hit 0?

07-01-2007, 06:07 AM	#3
SueM Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA. Age: 50 Posts: 1,220	Sinse you have a friend with an astablished tank, see if you can get some "unwashed" filter media as well as the gravel (keep it wet & warm during transit). Then add a few hardy fish and not worry about it. Give it a couple weeks and start adding fish a couple at a time. __________________ Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled

07-02-2007, 09:47 AM	#5
mousey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 839	black skirt tetras, zebra danios. __________________ mousey Toronto. Canada

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06-30-2007, 10:03 PM	#2
rcomeau Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 91	Taking gravel from the established tank is a good idea to get bacteria to 'seed' the tank. You will still need to cycle it by feeding the bacteria with an ammonia source until a large enough colony is grown to handle the fish load. In other words, a cycled tank isn't just getting ammonia to hit 0. It has to be able to keep it at 0 with a constant source of ammonia such as fish.

07-01-2007, 06:25 PM	#4
MaelStrom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 374	Thanks. What do you guys suggest for some hardy fish just to get it started?

07-02-2007, 10:54 AM	#6
judya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Age: 55 Posts: 223	I wouldn't get "Special" fish to cycle it. Just tell us what fish you plan to keep, and we can suggest which of them are more hardy, and can be used in your cycling program. If you only get a few fish at a time, and gradually stock over a many month time frame, the tank will cycle naturally. The live gravel will definitely help. Otherwise, you can use the fishless cycle, and do it quicker. Just be aware that even after it is cycled, when you add more fish, it will still need time for the bacteria to catch up to the new load.

07-02-2007, 11:48 AM	#7
fishbguy Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,898	^^^^^^^ that's my suggestion

07-02-2007, 12:10 PM	#8
MaelStrom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 374	I plan on getting 2 apistos 4 dario dario 6 harlequin rasboras 4 Steel-blue lyretail killis( Fundolopanchax gardneri) a dozen red cherry shrimp

07-03-2007, 10:46 AM	#9
judya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Age: 55 Posts: 223	In this case start with the rasboras (least expensive, so replacement costs, if any, won't be so high) and killies. Apistos last.

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