Cycling With Fish

[sparky_555]

Hi, i've filled my tank with water and turned everything on (filter, heater) How long shall i leave it before adding the 3 Black widow tetras i am going to cycle it with?
Also, how often should i do a water change during the cycle?

Thanks

 

[BFG]

Hi, i've filled my tank with water and turned everything on (filter, heater) How long shall i leave it before adding the 3 Black widow tetras i am going to cycle it with?
Also, how often should i do a water change during the cycle?

Thanks

Seeing as you haven't put any fish in yet, why not fishless cycle? Less stress for you as you don't have to worry about any fish dying, no waterchanges every few days, and less stress on the fish (if they were to survive).

However, if you were to insist on fish cycling, if the water is dechorinated and at temp, then there's nothing left to stop you

As for water changes, whenever Ammonia reaches uncomfortable levels for the fish, which will be quite often.

Edited to include useful link which I used to fishless cycle:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[sparky_555]

I thought about fishless cycling, but thought it would be easier to use the black widows, because they were origianally mine but had to give them to my dad because i had to sell my old tank. My dads got a juwel rekord 80 community tank, so he's just had them temporarily. He also said that i could have some of his water and filter material when he next does a water change which would speed up the cycling?

Would this be ok?

Thanks

 

[nmonks]

Probably. If you can halve the filter medium that your dad has, and take one half home with you, then the two tanks will quickly re-mature, probably within a couple of days. You can add a few fish at once. During that time, cut back on the food by 50%, and take a nitrite reading after a couple of days, just to make sure everything is settling in.

While transporting filter medium, be aware it is "alive", and keep it cool, out of sunlight, and open to oxygen. If you can aerate the bucket, but failing that, give it a good splash periodically. If the filter medium is compacted, open it out a bit so that the oxygen can get in. Definitely brush off any slime or dirt clogging up the sponge or wool.

Water is neither here nor there, frankly, so forget about it. It's better than nothing, but there isn't much by way of filter bacteria in the water, so all it does is shave a few percent off the total time to mature the tank. Gravel is better, but filter medium best of all.

Cheers,

Neale

My dads got a juwel rekord 80 community tank, so he's just had them temporarily. He also said that i could have some of his water and filter material when he next does a water change which would speed up the cycling?

Would this be ok?