Cycling A Tank

[cartandpeg]

Hi,
I know this has been asked many times before and I have read up different methods of cycling a new tank,but this is what I would like to do,so I am sort of just looking for a nod to say yep that will be fine,before I waste all the dollars I have spent on plants etc.

New tank will be 65 gallons,substrate will be swimming pool filter sand about an inch or so at the front and two inches at the back.

This is how I visualize me doing it,add new substrate,add driftwood and rock with some of these with already established Anubias and small Java Fern on from my existing small tank,add some wisteria plants from existing tank,add filter media from existing tank,which will be noodles and some filter wool.

Fill with water let any sand settle,switch on pump and heater and any lights for the plants.

Then start cycling using pure ammonia,doing test as I go along until all levels are good,then add a few fish from existing tank over a period of time,again checking for spikes as I go along.

So basically I would prefer to aquascape it all now rather than later.

In my existing tank when I started that, I knew very little and added everything in one go and spent two weeks doing huge water changes every day.

Probably from what I have asked above I still know very little.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Aquascaper]

As long as the sand is washed thoroughly before adding your method is fine. I would run the filter for a few days until the water is clear without adding any mature media from the old filter. This way any sand particles, etc. will be collected and you can clean the filter (and impeller!) without worrying about any die-off from the mature media. Once everything's settled transfer the mature media to the new filter and begin cycling.

 

[cartandpeg]

Thank you Aquascaper,
also thanks for the additional advice about running tank for a few days,I would not have considered that.
Cheers.

 

[Aquascaper]

The water will clear quicker if you just cram the new external with filter floss then chuck it once the water's sorted.

Don't forget the impeller though, it should just pull out so you can clean off any grit and wash the socket it sits in. A good maintenance regime if you have sand substrate is to clean the impeller and empty the external (don't have to touch the media) every couple of weeks to avoid any issues.

 

[cartandpeg]

Excellent, thank you Aquascaper,you are making this easier for me with that suggestion of just using filter floss,my actual filter system is in the hood of the tank, Aqua One 980T which I am still waiting delivery of.

 

[Aquascaper]

Just had a look online at your tank

Looks good, only comment would be leave out the carbon pads in favour of more sponges when you finally get it up and running. You only really need to use carbon to remove tannins or meds as and when required so better to have more surface area for bacteria.

Easy enough to cram filter floss in the chambers before you start transferring media so should be a doddle.

 

[cartandpeg]

Thank you Aquascaper,

Whilst I would be doing the ammonia adding,I would leave the carbon filter in place?

Aquascaper,an after thought,could I do the same as I asked in my first post,but not use ammonia,just get my water clear as you suggested then use filter wool from my existing tank to get everything right,only reason I ask is I read on a site that was some what anti ammonia and suggested one can get quicker, better results by using filter media already with bacteria on.

 

[Aquascaper]

I would leave them out from the start but worth keeping in case you need them at a later date.

Activated carbon only lasts a finite time, usually a month max., before it needs replaced which is why it's best to only put it in the filter when required to do its job.

 

[cartandpeg]

Thank you kindly.
I will go the ammonia path to cycle the tank,local stores only sell cloudy ammonia,which contains a soap from I can gather,so might have to venture into the city,see what they have.

 

[coolie]

You can always use Ammonium Bicarbonate cartandpeg.

 

[Aquascaper]

Ammonia Bicarbonate will affect the water pH and hardness, better to find an ammonia based cleaning fluid (just ammonia & water, no perfumes, etc.) with a dilution of 9.5% for accurate dosing.

 

[cartandpeg]

Ok thank you both, will see whats about.

 

[coolie]

Ammonia Bicarbonate will affect the water pH and hardness

It didn't really affect mine, but each to their own.

 

[Aquascaper]

But it did affect it. All depends what pH you started from, how much you added, water volume, etc. as to the final effect.

Its not a case of 'each to their own' its basic chemisrty. It's no different to adding Sodium Bicarbonate to increase pH which a lot of aquarists do when it's required.

 

[coolie]

When I say didn't really, I mean you are talkking about adding fractions of a gram to a 240 litre tank.