setting up a new tank... need to speed up cycling process

[africanmarty]

hi guys i have a few q's so i'll start from the beginning :

i want to start a new 4 foot tank and want it cycled asap. I have another established 4 foot established tank that been runnign for about a year and is stable. I was going to take half the gravel from the established tank and put it into the new tank ( should it be gravel vacced before puttig it into the new tank, and should it be put in the bottom of the tank and mixed with the new gravel i will add or should i put it into stockings and just have the stocking fillied with the gravel from the established tank lying on top of the newly added gravel ?) also i would add 50% of the water from the established tank into the new tank and fill the rest with tap water ( using stuff to rid chlorine ect.. ) with the filter they are hang over type filters and the established tank uses powerhead type filters to i cant add filter medium. i was also thinking of adding some 'cycle' mixture into the tank to help speed things along ( anyone had any experiance with these products ?) any other tips would be appriciated.

also with the hangover type filters how do you guys wash these ? as they are built into a cartride and dont know how to clean them properly ( without running them under a tap - but that would kill benefitial bacteria ) as for the powerhead filters (in the established) i just take the sponges out and squees them in a bucket of water ( from the tank ) and replace them and gravel vac about every month or earlier if i feel it needs it.

awaiting your advice

- Marty.

[KIMO]

Hi marty,

I can't comment on your HOB filters as i don't use them.

With your cycling issue, if you haven't started adding chemicals i'd start adding a few fish instead and start the cycling process that way.

Only add a few,maybe 2 to 4 for now and if possible some filter media from your established tank. The beneficial bacteria colonises in this filter media and as such can be easily added to a new tank. You can even squeeze some of the "dirty" water from your established filter into your new tank to help kick start the bacteria cycle.

The fish themselves will start the bacteria cycle as they "poo" away in your new tank as will the food you feed them.

Just make sure you keep up with thorough tank maintenance

ie. WATER CHANGES

I'd use this method rather than the gravel method. (Not as much good bacteria in the gravel but lots more rubbish and detritus material ie.poo)

If you can, check for ammonia levels as the tank is in its initial stages.

Have Fun...

KimO.

[africanmarty]

Just one more question guys last night i cleaned the powerhead filters in the established ( in tank water ) pretty well, is it ok to put them in the new tank i'm trying to cycle ( would they still have benefitial bacterial after been cleaned in tank water, as i gave them a pretty good squeese) ? or must i wait for them to get dirty again before i add them ? as i found another powerhead that wil take the filters YAY ! so now i can add gravel + filter medium.

[KIMO]

It all works in a balanced state.

You can add whatever to the tank. The amount of "good" bacteria can only be sustained by the amount of "bad" bacteria you have in there.

Yes you can put the filters in the new tank and yes there probably will be some beneficial bacteria in the medium.

I'm not sure how long beneficial bacteria lasts in tank without a source of "bad" bacteria though. Hence the need to add fish or an artificial source like a dead prawn.

Sounds like your on your way, though............

Try to check levels of ammonia,nitrite and then nitrates if possible or have the water tested by your LFS.

They can then advise when to add more fish. or when the tank has fully cycled.

Good Luck,

KimO.

[africanmarty]

i'm added "5 drops of ammonia per 10 Gallons into the water on a daily basis" on day 1 but my ammonia reading is only 1ppm ? i'm added alot more to get it to higher level... like 10+ mls to get it high. The next day i checked it amonia was 1ppm... so i added another 5 drops of ammonia per 10 Gallons and the ammonia level only increased to about 2ppm... so then i added another 10mls and then it whent up again. This is a standard 4 foot aquarium. i have included gravel, and a filter + filter medium from an establisged tank i'm getting no reading of nitrite or nitrate ( but idont exoect to as its only day 2 ). why do i have to add so much ammonia ? does this sound wierd ?

[Richard]

Hey mate,

You are really making things complicated for yourself. All you need to do is squeeze the sponge from your cycled tank into your new filter (HOB, Canister, whatever.) and when you do a water change for the established tank use that water and put it into your new tank. Fill up the new tank and add a small colony of fish. I have found this way much easier and faster than the fishless cycling method.

HTH,

Richard.

[africanmarty]

UPDATE: looks like the cycle is underway tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (2nd day results) :

ammonia: 1ppm

nitrite: .2 - .5 mg/l

nitrate: 20 mg/l

so i'm going to add some more ammonia to get it up to 5ppm and continue this cycle

does this sound right to you guys, the fact that i'm getting nitrate on the second day ?

Thanks for your advice richard, but i really want to give this fishless cycle a go.

[MikeWs Fish]

Hey mate... good to see you are taking a scientific apprach to cycling and actually testing the levels of ammonia and nitrite and nitrate in your tank.

You will find that a lot of inexperienced people just simply add media from an establish tank and think it's OK, without actually doing any testing. I always shake my head when I see the those same people post a thread like : HELP! my ammonia spiked.....

I think you know the drill.... wait until it has cycled by what the test kits show then add a tiny bit more ammonia. If the ammonia and nitrite goes to 0 within 24 hours, your tank has fully cycled and you can start adding fish It usually takes about 2-3 weeks once the first trace of ammonia has shown up.

Mike.

[africanmarty]

Hey mate... good to see you are taking a scientific apprach to cycling and actually testing the levels of ammonia and nitrite and nitrate in your tank.

You will find that a lot of inexperienced people just simply add media from an establish tank and think it's OK, without actually doing any testing. I always shake my head when I see the those same people post a thread like : HELP! my ammonia spiked.....

I think you know the drill.... wait until it has cycled by what the test kits show then add a tiny bit more ammonia. If the ammonia and nitrite goes to 0 within 24 hours, your tank has fully cycled and you can start adding fish It usually takes about 2-3 weeks once the first trace of ammonia has shown up.

Mike.

Thanks mike means alot mate.

I tested this morning and got this reading :

ammonia: 1ppm

nitrite: 0 mg/l

nitrate: 10 mg/l

So i added some more ammonia and will post results tomorrow morning and keep you guys updated.

On a different note : i accidentally left my filters off on my other tank overnight.. and my dovii was at the top of the tank not looking his best ( lack of oxygen i think ) so i did a 40% wc and put the filters back on.

[Richard]

UPDATE: looks like the cycle is underway tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (2nd day results) :

ammonia: 1ppm

nitrite: .2 - .5 mg/l

nitrate: 20 mg/l

so i'm going to add some more ammonia to get it up to 5ppm and continue this cycle

does this sound right to you guys, the fact that i'm getting nitrate on the second day ?

Thanks for your advice richard, but i really want to give this fishless cycle a go.

It's all good mate. I did the fishless cycle routine when i was setting up my 6x2x2 for discus. It's good for the knowledge and helps you know how the whole nitrogen cycle works.

Though lately when setting my tanks up i've done it the "Inexperienced" way as some may say because it simply works for me. I always make sure i use media from tanks which aren't carrying disease and so far I've had luck. Never had an ammonia spike in my life.

cheers mate,

Richard.

[KIMO]

i agree with Richard.

I personally would rather spend my time being a fishkeeper and enjoying fish, than a scientist/chemist mucking around with chemicals for 2-3 weeks.

Anyway...If it works for you then it's all good, as long as you enjoy what you're doing.

Have fun with your new tank,

KimO.

[africanmarty]

it's all good mate. I did the fishless cycle routine when i was setting up my 6x2x2 for discus. It's good for the knowledge and helps you know how the whole nitrogen cycle works.

Though lately when setting my tanks up i've done it the "Inexperienced" way as some may say because it simply works for me. I always make sure i use media from tanks which aren't carrying disease and so far I've had luck. Never had an ammonia spike in my life.

cheers mate,

Richard.

i agree with Richard.

I personally would rather spend my time being a fishkeeper and enjoying fish, than a scientist/chemist mucking around with chemicals for 2-3 weeks.

Anyway...If it works for you then it's all good, as long as you enjoy what you're doing.

Have fun with your new tank,

KimO.

thanks guys will keep you guys posted on the stats you think it may cycle in under a week ?

[KIMO]

As MikeW says, it could take a good 2-3 weeks.

Follow his advise as he sounds like he knows what he's talking about when it comes to fishless cycling.

"""I think you know the drill.... wait until it has cycled by what the test kits show then add a tiny bit more ammonia. If the ammonia and nitrite goes to 0 within 24 hours, your tank has fully cycled and you can start adding fish It usually takes about 2-3 weeks once the first trace of ammonia has shown up.""" ......(quote by MikeW).

Have fun,

KimO.

[africanmarty]

todays readings :

ammonia: 1ppm

nitrite: .25 mg/l

nitrate: 10 mg/l

nitrite are showing up yay

[africanmarty]

todays readings :

ammonia: 1ppm

nitrite: 0 mg/l

nitrate: 5 mg/l

nitrite didnt show up this morning ???? and my nitrate reading has halved ??? this nirmal. added ammonia.