Fishless Cycle For Trout

[shennings]

Thanks for the opportunity to get input from your forum members...

I am coordinator for the Trout Unlimited project called "Trout in the Classroom"
To take a look at what we do - www.ticnc.org

We have 55 gallon aquariums in our classrooms across the state that we hatch about 200 eyed trout eggs and raise them to releasable size... we shoot for 5" to 6". We start with lots of eggs because of the losses we experience and I think pre-cycling the tank could improve our success.
As you can imagine what an explosion we have when the eggs hatch, then we battle water chemistry until we release our fish. My question is what do you folks think about fishless cycling for our situation? When we introduce our trout eggs to the tank it takes about 2 weeks for them to hatch out completly. Then the newly hatched trout feed off of their yoke sacs for another week or so.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[bronzecat]

Hi and welcome

I would imagine that baby Trout are big feeders and produce a fair amount of waste. I would think it would benefit you to have the tanks set-up and cycled well in advance of the eggs hatching, as once they have consume their yolk sacks and you start feeding, the ammonia levels will rocket. This will cause you to lose lots of fish.

IMO, external canister filters would be best as they are far more powerful than an internal

Take a look at the Fishless cycling topic here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[Amunet]

Hmmm... Maybe use a backup tank. Fishless cycle it, and keep it going fishless until the eggs hatch in the 55gallon tank, then cut some of the mature filter media off from the cycled tank and stick it in the 55gal filter?
My brain doesn't want to cooperate w/ me right now so that's all I could come up with hehe

 

[shennings]

How long does it take to no fish cycle a 55 gallon tank?

 

[Tolak]

When you cycle a tank you aren't cycling the water or the tank itself, you are building a colony of nitrifying bacteria in the filter media. Amunet has the best way of going about this, cycle the media fishlessly in another tank, which doesn't even have to be a tank. A large Rubbermaid storage tub will do just fine. It will help if you can get some mature media from another tank, this will jump start the cycle.

Being a state-wide project, you are probably on a bit of a budget. While canister filters are nice, they do cost. For each 55 gallon tank consider 3 large sponge filters, run off of one air pump. I use 3 in overstocked 150 gallon tubs, they have an immense amount of bio area. Common ones are the Hydro series, http/www.jehmco.com/html/hydro-sponge_filters.html Jehmco will generally cut you a deal for quantity purchases, especially for an educational project.

You can also get sponge filters that are already cycled; http/www.angelsplus.com/FiltersSponge.htm

Steve is a good guy, explain your project, he'll be able to help out.

 

[bronzecat]

Agree with Tolak, I didn't consider budgets

It would also be very educational for those involved to have an understanding of the nitrogen cycle and how a filter is matured

 

[shennings]

Wow that's crazy.. in a good way! I didn't think of just cycling the filter media etc in rubbermaid containers. That sounds very intresting. We have been very fortunate with our equipment.

We are using Marineland 360 Canister Filter and we maintain a 55 degree temp with a Oceanic ¼ hp Chiller.

So in theory I could take a plastic trashcan, fill with water, Fire up an airstone and circulate the water - drop in our filter media a month before the eggs hatch, follow your fishless amonia instructions and start up the filters with the "cycled" media when the trout come off of the yoke sac. As we start feeding I could cycle pretty much anything in the setup. What a great idea.

Oh and we do explain the nitrogen cycle, We just don't seem to be able to get them established well.

Please expand on the filter idea if you can. Trout in the Classroom is a national project, and it sounds like this could potentionally benifit these projects across the country. I have never heard anyone from any other state mention trying this start up process.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Tolak]

If the Marinelands are bought & paid for you can run them in the can, and treat it like an aquarium performing a fishless cycle. I'm a big supporter of kids in this hobby, I'll need their help when I'm old & can't toss large tanks around like I used to!

With our club auctions we have a kids table, where 12 & under can bid on donated bags of fish, starting at 50 cents. It has the usual lavebearers, and more common less aggressive cichlids, something to help the kids get a start on a budget. There is so much junk in the world today that is useless or worse for kids to get involved in, animal ownership & husbandry is something that should never get put to the side, we all have to exist together on the same planet.

 

[OldMan47]

Where are you located Shennings? There is a thread listing people willing to share cycled media to get that jump start really going. I have a link to it in my signature area, and yes I have media for a Marineland C series that I could swap for new media if you happen to be nearby. I will need to find out if the schools around here are participating.

 

[shennings]

I am located in Winston Salem. That would be great to network like this. The setups that I am involved in are using the 360's. In other areas they may be using different equipment. Thanks for the offer!

Steve

[post="0"]Trout in the Classroom[/post]