Cycling

[Mybbygotsauz]

Ok,
if i do a 100% water change should i let that water cycle also? If so for how long?
60 gallon

 

[fidjet2]

well i did a 95% water change when i changed my gravel to sand...a neraly week later i added some fish so idk sorry

but quick question...why would you want/need to?

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

haha cause ive been dealing with a nasty bacteria bloom that i simply cant stand any more lol

 

[the_lock_man]

You don't cycle the water, you cycle the filter.

Edit: You are fish-in cycling. THe bloom is caused by the ammonia from your fish. If you're going to do a huge WC, fine, but you can't cut corners here. You need to be doing large WCs daily, perhaps twice daily. Your ammonia and nitrite tests will indicate how much you need to change.

Keep the level of ammonia and nitrite as close to 0 as you possibly can at all times. In practical terms, that means the levels must not rise above 0.25ppm by the time of your next WC.

 

[fidjet2]

haha cause ive been dealing with a nasty bacteria bloom that i simply cant stand any more lol

Ahhh Good luck

 

[soybean]

I still don't think you grasp what cycling actually means...

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

Ok, cycling is pretty much letting beneficial bacteria build up in your filter right? before putting the fish in.
Is there really any other aspects to cycling, because if there is then you are absolutely correct, i dont fully grasp what cycling is.

 

[soybean]

That's the end result, yes. Do you know HOW to cycle your tank? How have you done it in the past? And have you read any of the links to cycling info you've been given on here yet?

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

Not really, i figured get everything running without the fish in, then simply adding a food source for the bacteria to grow, wait about 4 weeks then add the fish.
I feel like that is the right way to do it,
thats the way our grounds keeper used to do it i believe.
is that right?

 

[soybean]

And what do you add as a food source?
How do you know the cycle is complete without a water testing kit?

Please read the info you're being directed to rather than it being typed out again. There's a link in my sig, or if you search for cycling on the forum you'll get loads of topics on it.

You need to do it properly if you're wanting to keep fish like rams. They're not like a danio which might put up with less than perfect conditions for a bit longer than other fish - rams are sensitive to toxins and you will cause them long term damage if you put them in a tank which isn't fully cycled.

You've already learned from the bacterial bloom that cutting corners makes the process longer overall - please take the time to do it properly. All the info you need is on this site so there isn't any reason not to.

 

[HayzH]

Not really, i figured get everything running without the fish in, then simply adding a food source for the bacteria to grow, wait about 4 weeks then add the fish.
I feel like that is the right way to do it,
thats the way our grounds keeper used to do it i believe.
is that right?

i am 4 weeks into cycling my tanks......and no its not cycled yet..what ammonia source were you going to add??? I'm afraid its alot more complicated than that if you want healthy fish at the end of the cycle.

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

The rams are in a holding tank thats been running for over a year now,
they will be fine
as soon as this tank is cycled they will be added
and the ammonia source would come from a tablet i bout at the lfs, it says it will raise ammonia so i believe ill use this
right?

 

[fidjet2]

and the ammonia source would come from a tablet i bout at the lfs, it says it will raise ammonia so i believe ill use this
right?

what are the ingredients?

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

Not exactly sure, it doesnt say on the package,
what would you recommend using?
Ill just get what you recommend instead depending on its availability

 

[fidjet2]

well i have seen people tell other people that the ammonia should only contain ammonia and water