Cycling New Tank

[Craigus]

Having trouble starting the cycling process. Need some help. Setup = 75 gallon freshwater tank, cascade 1000 canister filter , cascade 300 h.o.t. Filter, 200 watt heater. Amon is at 0ppm and ph is around 8 with water temp about 78. substrate is 70 lbs of black sand and crushed coral. Okay so I moved three off my tiger barbs out off another tank and put then in this one. I acclimated them dir like an hour but they don't look like they are doing well. I used stress coat to treat the water and that expensive bio spirA stuff. Any way fish are lethargic, swimming slow and appear to be having trouble maintaining depth. Even they do move they are twitchy abe looked strained. They can't fight the current of thee bubble wall and just float around the tank bouncing off whatever they hit. No appetite or interest in food. Suggestions?

 

[Tizer]

stick them back in the old tank and cycle the new one properly.

 

[Lolly123]

What test kit are you using to test your water?

Liquid test kits are the only way to go for more reliable results, something like API would be a good choice.

Your PH is quite high, i'm aware that a lot of fish can adapt given the time, but is there a reason why you are using crushed coral, do you plan to keep cichlids in the long run? Or does your tap water have bad buffering capability? I have also read an article that states ammonia has a more toxic form the higher the PH value.

I would say that you should start using something like seachem prime to condition your water, it is a lot more concentrated and one of the best on the market, as far as cost effectiveness goes this wont see you wrong.

Of course it is a good idea to have oxygenated water, especially in the cycling period but if your fish are struggling can you not lower the intensity of the bubble curtain or for the better move them back out of your new tank and complete a fishless cycle. Or if you already have an established mature tank, steal a small bit of filter media and place it in the new one to give it a kick start. What are the parameters of the tank in which the barbs came from?

If you can save the tiger barbs the stress and toxicity of the new tank, I would, and switch over to using bottled ammonia to cycle your tank, in my experience its quicker and less stressful when you dont have livestock to care for when you are cycling. It is also that much kinder to your stock.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I agree with the suggestions for moving the fish back to the other tank, if that is an option. Are you opposed to trying the fishless cycle method on the new tank? The beginner's resource center link in my signature provides great information for getting started.