Cycling a new tank

[Jamez]

Hey guys. I am currently setting up a 50 L that I will be using to house some dwarf cichlids in. I will be using an aquaclear hang on filter that I haven't used in a while for filtration and I was wondering if you guys know of any links to websites with info on how to cycle this tank without using fish because it has been a long time since I have cycled a tank?

I've been keeping fish for about 5 years but it has been nearly that long since I have cycled a tank so I would love some info to refresh my memory. Thanks alot in advance for your help

Regards, Luke

 

[Lornek8]

http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=141

 

[Jamez]

Thankyou Lornek8 for that link. Do lfs' usually sell ammonia for cycling new tanks?

I also am curious about having a carbon pad in my aquaclear filter, is this a good idea or should I replace it with some normal filter pad in your opinion?

 

[Lornek8]

Most pet stores don't typically carry ammonia. It's usually a simple matter to find it in a local store. Around here Ive seen it in drug stores, markets, hardware stores, and others. Usually sold as a cleaning agent.

I usually don't use carbon in my filters, just more problems than its worth.

 

[Jamez]

Ok I will keep a lookout for ammonia when I go shopping and thanks for your replies it is much appreciated.

 

[Jamez]

Do any Aussies on the forums know where we sell this ammonia stuff over here?

 

[Jason20679]

I don't know what it's like over there but i got a 500ml bottle of ammonia from a local pharmacy

 

[Mooo]

Your local supermarket should have some near or around the washing powder dept or the bleach dept...

 

[Jamez]

Ok thanks guys, I'll have a look around and when I find it I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers, Luke

 

[Jamez]

I found some ammonia at the supermarket, it's a homebrand product and it's called 'cloudy ammonia'. The strength of it is 20 g/l, do you think this would be ok to use?

 

[bigbird]

I would never use those products at all and would naturally cycle the tank. I find that otherwise you run certain risks of overduluting etc etc. Also is there really a rush for this tank ? Use prime and a starter culture like, Cycle Nutrafin etc or even ask friends who have tanks for a small piece from their filter to set the culture. Carbon pads need replacing and I have always removed these from the start and never have these in my tanks. As you will house small cichlids, I presume maybe apistos or the like, you might have dither fish ? Do you have any other tanks, if yes maybe catch a fish from their to introduce. I would let the tank run for 14days, then add some small food items, maybe even a snail or 2, then go from there with dither fish. If you have another tank, hand your new/old filter in this new tank for 10days and voila it is then set with cuture . cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Jamez]

I would never use those products at all and would naturally cycle the tank. I find that otherwise you run certain risks of overduluting etc etc. Also is there really a rush for this tank ? Use prime and a starter culture like, Cycle Nutrafin etc or even ask friends who have tanks for a small piece from their filter to set the culture. Carbon pads need replacing and I have always removed these from the start and never have these in my tanks. As you will house small cichlids, I presume maybe apistos or the like, you might have dither fish ? Do you have any other tanks, if yes maybe catch a fish from their to introduce. I would let the tank run for 14days, then add some small food items, maybe even a snail or 2, then go from there with dither fish. If you have another tank, hand your new/old filter in this new tank for 10days and voila it is then set with cuture . cheers jk :thumbup:

Okie dokes. Well the main reason I was going down this path is that so many people have suggested it and I was very unsure of which way to go exactly. There is no rush for this tank no and I have plenty of time up my sleeve to cycle it too. The tank is currently full of water and the filter has been up and running for a few days now, and yes I do plan on having a few dither fish once the tank is up and running. With adding a small fish, would a small cory be ok to cycle this tank or would that be a bad option? If not, I might grab a half a dozen cardinal tetras or something similar, will they be ok in the tank by themselves without the filter breaking down their waste etc for a couple of weeks? I have also taken the carbon out of the filter and replaced with some coarse sponge to avoid any of the problems carbon brings. I do also have other tanks running so I could take some filter media or even water out of those tanks to cycle this new one.

 

[bigbird]

thanks, i would take some media over from the other tank, just helps the cycle. I would add dither fish, that you wish to keep in that tank for later, so if you want IE Rummy nose, grab 5 and put them in. I would wait another 5 days before adding any fish, but as stated get some media over from the other tank and add some flake food already now to start the process. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Jamez]

Thanks for your replies. I think I might take a bit of media from another filter and some water from another tank and sort of build upon it from there. Then later on add a few dither fish or something similar. Thanks again

 

[Lornek8]

I would let the tank run for 14days, then add some small food items, maybe even a snail or 2, then go from there with dither fish. If you have another tank, hand your new/old filter in this new tank for 10days and voila it is then set with cuture . cheers jk :thumbup:

Kinda defeats the purpose of using a culture from another tank. The thing to remember is that the denitrifying bacteria are living organisms. Running the tank without a food source (fish waste) will simply starve off the culture. Fishless cycle is a proven "humane" way of cycling a tank. Its not cheating nor is it quicker than cycling a tank using other methods. It has the advantage of not subjecting fish to potential ammonia toxicity and allows you to build up a greater filter capacity. Again, as bacteria are living, the colony will only develop in sufficient numbers as allowed by its food source. Thus if you simply have one snail in the tank, the colony will only develop enough capacity to support the single snail. As you add more fish the colony slowly grows which is why you sholdn't add a large quantity of fish suddenly. Using the fishless cycle, you are able to add way more ammonia then would be produced by fish and/or in quantities that would kill whatever fish you were trying to cycle the tank with. In this manner your filter is better able to cope with a higher stocking density quicker.

If you've got other cycled media available to you then by all means use it in addition to the fishless cycle. However going the route of a fishless cycle is a far safer means of cycling the filters than simply throwing fish in.

 

[Jamez]

Is putting ammonia into the tank (at the right doses) a completely safe thing to do? That's probably whats concerning me the most.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Cycling in the context Lorne is talking about is only really relevant to un-planted tanks, where you are totally reliant on the bacteria in the filter to maintain water quality. In that case the fish less cycle using ammonia is a good idea. You need to make sure that you have some carbonate hardness in the water, and you are very well oxygenated (cycling uses a lot of O2 and HCO3) during the cycle.

As you are keeping dwarf cichlids, I assume it will be a planted tank? If it is planted I wouldn't cycle it with ammonia, but just plant it up fairly heavily and leave it for about 6 weeks. I always add MTS and Red Ramshorn snails to my tanks from the start, and later on usually some Red Cherry shrimps as well (but I'm not sure what you can get in Australia). Once the plants are growing well, you can add the dithers (and shrimps), and the after another couple of weeks the Cichlids. I don't clean the filters during the set up process, other than a light rinse if they are really gungy and are inhibiting water flow. You can add some plant fertiliser or fish food, but I've found it isn't necessary.

Plants preferentially take up ammonia over other nitrogen sources, and you are unlikely to have problems with cycling if the plants are in active growth. Additionally if you have a tank with a lot of structure, all the surfaces in the tank, and particularly the upper layers of the substrate will provide sites for bacterial activity as well.

cheers Darrel

 

[Jamez]

Alrighty well I think I might combine a few of the methods suggested here and cycle the tank that way. Firstly I will add some media and water from an existing tank to get things started and then I will add some low light plants once I have sourced a light I am happy with to help with the process. Once things are starting to mature and develop I might add a few dither fish to cap things off. What do you guys think of that?

 

[Mooo]

Can't answer that ..I have never used it to do a cycle..
I do have one other suggestion, I would also add an air driven sponge filter..these are fabulous and the extra filtration will ensure you have a healthy tank...& if one fails the tank is still safe till you can fix or replace the broken filter..

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Firstly I will add some media and water from an existing tank to get things started and then I will add some low light plants once I have sourced a light I am happy with to help with the process. Once things are starting to mature and develop I might add a few dither fish to cap things off. What do you guys think of that?

Yes, that is what I do. There aren't many bacteria in the water, but it should be free of chlorine etc.

I do have one other suggestion, I would also add an air driven sponge filter..these are fabulous and the extra filtration will ensure you have a healthy tank...& if one fails the tank is still safe till you can fix or replace the broken filter..

Good advice to have a spare and it will help with the oxygenation as well.

cheers Darrel