cycling quickly

[j@mie]

Hi guys, 1 have a new tank (75g) and im looking at stocking this asap, so cycling needs to be done the fastest way possible. I have an established 20g of 6months, i can steal some median from the filter aswell as steal some gravel from this tank.

whats the best method of doing this? And please tell me your suggestions for Shoal fish, im looking at 4-5 clown loach for a start, but obviously this tank can stock a whole lot more, the filter is very reasonable aswell.

So comments and help please

cheers peeps

 

[Cod Father]

You could use some of your current tank to start off the new tank. But due to the diffrence in size it wont help to much.
You'd still need around two weeks of a cycle.

You could pinch 7.5gal from the old tank but it would still need 67.5gal of uncycled water.
Plus I'd recon the filter may be to diffrent as well.

Was reading your other post about fish. Looks like your after big cichlds for the tank. Keyholes are peaceful. But if your your wanting a mixed tank. Stick to dwarf cichlids. Think I saw something about barbs as well, so remember they like to nip fins, so no long finned fish

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Soak the filter media for the 75 gal in your 20 gal for a couple weeks. Then put it in your 75 gal, and add enough ammonia to bring it up to 5 or more ppm's. Keep it there till you start getting nitrites. Then cut the ammonia in half (keeping it at 2.5 or 3). It will probalby still take a couple weeks regardless of how you do it though. There really isn't a fast way to do it. This is how I did my 10 gal and it cycled in about 2 weeks after soaking the filter media in an established 5 gal.

 

[modernhamlet]

I'd just steal 1/2 of the media from the 20g (replace it with fresh media and the colony will be back to normal in 2 days). Take that 1/2 of the media and put in your 75g filter surrounded by plenty of fresh media.

Then take AlexsDaddy's advice from there. 2 weeks total, give or take.

 

[j@mie]

thanks for ur input guys, but im struggling to accept the fact that i have to wait 2 weeks min for it to cycle

when i got my 20g i used the filterfrom the previous(cycled) tank and filled the tank with tap water, i didnt have 1 dead fish, and if i smell the water, i smell that nice earthy smell. So its cycled, and all my readings are fine.

So whats the deal

 

[BobK]

Yeah, but we're talking a big difference in tank size. You also might want to take some gravel from the existing tank in a clean stocking and then stick it into the 75. Bacteria on the gravel wil speed up the growth of your new biofilter. Just curious, what type of filters do you have on the existing and the new tank?

 

[j@mie]

Yeah, but we're talking a big difference in tank size. You also might want to take some gravel from the existing tank in a clean stocking and then stick it into the 75. Bacteria on the gravel wil speed up the growth of your new biofilter. Just curious, what type of filters do you have on the existing and the new tank?

hi, im using a ####ty filter on my 20g, that was standard. Im going to use a Flural 4 plus on my new 75gal

 

[j@mie]

Yeah, but we're talking a big difference in tank size. You also might want to take some gravel from the existing tank in a clean stocking and then stick it into the 75. Bacteria on the gravel wil speed up the growth of your new biofilter. Just curious, what type of filters do you have on the existing and the new tank?

then how about i steal 75% of the water from my 20g, cos that will be fine with new water again.

put it in my new tank, then rob some filter media and put it in my new filter, then see how long that takes

 

[BobK]

Oh, an internal. I wanted to know the models to see how easy it was to transfer the media. I'm not sure the 4 plus has enough capacity for 75 gallons. It all depends on the type and quantity of fish you will have when fully stocked. The 4 plus is only rated at 260 gallons/hour. You probably should have a filter that turns the water over at least 5 times/hour. I have a filter rated at 400 gallons/hour in my very lightly stocked 75 gallon. If and when I fully stock the tank I will definitely be adding more filtration. This filter is actually rated for tanks up to 57 gallons.

As far as cycling goes patience is key. If it only takes 2 weeks thats 2-3 times what it takes when beginning from scratch.

 

[j@mie]

Oh, an internal. I wanted to know the models to see how easy it was to transfer the media. I'm not sure the 4 plus has enough capacity for 75 gallons. It all depends on the type and quantity of fish you will have when fully stocked. The 4 plus is only rated at 260 gallons/hour. You probably should have a filter that turns the water over at least 5 times/hour. I have a filter rated at 400 gallons/hour in my very lightly stocked 75 gallon. If and when I fully stock the tank I will definitely be adding more filtration. This filter is actually rated for tanks up to 57 gallons.

As far as cycling goes patience is key. If it only takes 2 weeks thats 2-3 times what it takes when beginning from scratch.

well i have a spare Fluval 2 plus, ill throw that in aswell,

so

Fluval 2 Plus Internal Filter
400 Liters per Hour (105 gph)

+

Fluval 4 Plus Internal Filter
1000 Liters per Hour (315 gph)

= 1400 liters per hour

 

[Fishy411]

actualy clown loaches get up to a foot but they are slow growers. About 1" a year so i wouldnt worry about it.