Cycle With Stress-Zyme?

[nikkifro8994]

Hello. I am going to set up my 5 gallon betta tank tomorrow and I need some help cycling. I have never cycled a tank before. I have a test kit that tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph levels. I have 1 small problem. I have absolutely no idea how to cycle a fish tank. With my guppy tank all I did was set it up and let it run for a week. I also added stress-zyme. It's supposed to put good bacteria in. I know thats not the best way to do it, but I didn't lose any fish. Can I do it that way again? Or are bettas too sensitive to water levels? If I can't or REALLY shouldn't use the stress-zyme, how do I cycle my tank?

Thanks!
Nikki

 

[BigbruiserAl]

By reading this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

 

[Overload]

By reading this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

+1

 

[HayzH]

By reading this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/113861-fishless-cycling/

+1

+2

 

[Miles_hot]

For clarity - do you have another cycles tank (i.e. one in which fish have been successfully living for a significant number of months) available?

 

[nikkifro8994]

The only tank i have set up is my 10 gallon guppy/platy tank. It has been set up for 3 months or so.

 

[Miles_hot]

What are the readings on that tank and are you doing just maintenance water changes are are you still doing daily water changes to control the ammonia levels? If the readings are consistently zero and you are not having to control the ammonia / Nitrite levels with water changes - i.e. the filter is fully cycled - when did it hit this cycled point?

I am asking to attempt to understand if you have a stable, mature, cycled filter in there which we can use some media from or if this is un-cycled / very newly cycled filter which we should leave alone in terms of media....

Miles

 

[nikkifro8994]

weekly 2 gallon water changes. thats it.

 

[nikkifro8994]

I am asking to attempt to understand if you have a stable, mature, cycled filter in there which we can use some media from or if this is un-cycled / very newly cycled filter which we should leave alone in terms of media....

The filters on the tanks aren't even the same brand. Could I still use mature filter media from the 10 gallon filter?

 

[Miles_hot]

Oh yes - if the filter is mature you can take 1/3 of the media and cut it up etc to fit the new filter. My only concern would be "is your filter mature enough"?

What are the water test results on the old tank and how long has it been hitting double zero (ammonia and nitrite)?

Miles

 

[nikkifro8994]

no ammonia or nitrite and low nitrate. double zero for a month and a half to 2 months

 

[Miles_hot]

I should think that you can remove some of the media from the older tank's filter and use it to seed the new one however I would stay comfortably below the 1/3 volume that you can remove from a mature filter. Replace the media removed of course!
Put the mature media early in the flow path within the new filter and it should speed up your filter's cycle a lot.
Miles

 

[Firecc]

Hello. I am going to set up my 5 gallon betta tank tomorrow and I need some help cycling. I have never cycled a tank before. I have a test kit that tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph levels. I have 1 small problem. I have absolutely no idea how to cycle a fish tank. With my guppy tank all I did was set it up and let it run for a week. I also added stress-zyme. It's supposed to put good bacteria in. I know thats not the best way to do it, but I didn't lose any fish. Can I do it that way again? Or are bettas too sensitive to water levels? If I can't or REALLY shouldn't use the stress-zyme, how do I cycle my tank?

Thanks!
Nikki

Betta fish are pretty strong fish, so if you just set up your tank like your first one. Let it sit for 3-4 days with the filter and your neutralizers in the tank. Check your levels, if all is ok, add your betta fish and a little bit of stress-zyme. It will help the fish to get used to the tank. Nothing special, just make sure it is at safe freshwater standards.

 

[Miles_hot]

Firec - I don't agree with the advice unless you are suggesting that the OP should go to a fish in cycle straight off. In either case reading the stuff under the Beginer's section is going to be a good idea!

Miles
Edited to change fishless to fish in!!!

 

[the_lock_man]

Hello. I am going to set up my 5 gallon betta tank tomorrow and I need some help cycling. I have never cycled a tank before. I have a test kit that tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph levels. I have 1 small problem. I have absolutely no idea how to cycle a fish tank. With my guppy tank all I did was set it up and let it run for a week. I also added stress-zyme. It's supposed to put good bacteria in. I know thats not the best way to do it, but I didn't lose any fish. Can I do it that way again? Or are bettas too sensitive to water levels? If I can't or REALLY shouldn't use the stress-zyme, how do I cycle my tank?

Thanks!
Nikki

Betta fish are pretty strong fish, so if you just set up your tank like your first one. Let it sit for 3-4 days with the filter and your neutralizers in the tank. Check your levels, if all is ok, add your betta fish and a little bit of stress-zyme. It will help the fish to get used to the tank. Nothing special, just make sure it is at safe freshwater standards.

I disagree strongly with that advice. Setting up a tank like that will do nothing to cycle the filter.