Cycling Advice

[James007]

Having caught the 'fish bug' after experimenting with a small 20 litre tank I have recent bought a Fluval 600 (63 litre tank) and am after some advice on the cycling.

I set the tank up with the gravel, ornaments, plants, water etc and have had the heater and filter on for a week now. I also transferred a couple of litres of water from my old tank. I also bought a bamboo shrimp a few days ago and put him in the tank thinking this would help the tank cycle. From the offset I put in a new carbon sponge in the filter and last night I cut a small piece from the sponge from my old tank and placed it inside my new filter. I have also put a small amount of flake into the tank a couple of times.

I am a bit concerned that I may have put the shrimp in way too early although he seems ok, apart from hiding when the light is on. Although my other shrimps also did this when I first got them.

I have a male fighter, a platy and 2 amano shrimps in my old tank. How soon can I add these to the new tank and is there anything I need to do to speed up the readiness of the tank. Have yet to run the first water tests.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

if i were you i would put your new filter in your established tank for 2 weeks this will cycle the filter for you

 

[DebraAustin]

Having caught the 'fish bug' after experimenting with a small 20 litre tank I have recent bought a Fluval 600 (63 litre tank) and am after some advice on the cycling.

I set the tank up with the gravel, ornaments, plants, water etc and have had the heater and filter on for a week now. I also transferred a couple of litres of water from my old tank. I also bought a bamboo shrimp a few days ago and put him in the tank thinking this would help the tank cycle. From the offset I put in a new carbon sponge in the filter and last night I cut a small piece from the sponge from my old tank and placed it inside my new filter. I have also put a small amount of flake into the tank a couple of times.

I am a bit concerned that I may have put the shrimp in way too early although he seems ok, apart from hiding when the light is on. Although my other shrimps also did this when I first got them.

I have a male fighter, a platy and 2 amano shrimps in my old tank. How soon can I add these to the new tank and is there anything I need to do to speed up the readiness of the tank. Have yet to run the first water tests.

Do a search for fishless cycling. I just did this with my new tank and it worked very well. It takes some time, but it is worth saving the fish from living in a chemical cocktail for an extended period of time. Good luck.

Debra

 

[DanDanUK]

I'd add some small inexpensive fish to your tank to help the cycle prosses leave them for about 4 weeks then check your water parameters and if all's well add your other fish!

If you don't wish to add fish i to help cycle you can go to your LFS and buy pre cycling bacteria it's basicly the good bacteria which your tank needs ... In a bottle add that i can't remember what it's call tho's sory but i'm sure your LFS will know!

 

[bogwood]

Definately do a 'fishless' cycle...

... apart from a US product called 'Bio Spira' (hard to find in the UK) it's debatable if any of the other 'cycling bacteria' products actually work...

... adding water from an established tank will have little effect - most of the beneficial bacteria you require are in the substrate or filter media of established tanks...

... Shrimp produce so little waste that using them to cycle is not worth it... do a fishless cycle instead!...

 

[James007]

Can you do a 'fishless cycle' with a shrimp or other fish already in the tank or will the ammonia dosing kill them off.

Given that I already have the shrimp in the tank and have transferred filtermaterial from my old tank - should I add my male betta and platy now to help turn up the ammonia production? (1 week since switching on the filter.