Fishless Cycle..how To Speed

[chardonnay1000]

Hi,

Im 22 days into a fish less cycle and adding 15 drops of ammonia daily, my nitrites are at 4mg but refuse to come down..i even test 24 hrs after adding the ammonia but still sitting top of the scale.

So, i was thinking, i am currently running another tank fully cycled...but...they were treat for septemia 2 weeks ago. the final dose was added last sunday and i have no poorley fish, execpt 1 harelequin with a fat tummy prop abdominal dropsy but is still alive and kicking..all the others are fine now..or so i think...

Is this worth the risk???

could i leave the harlequin in that tank as a quarantine tank.

Also would a big water change get the nitrites down any quicker...I know i will need a huge one at the end of the cycle but wondered if any of this would work.

Any suggestions appreciated. Does this make sense?

 

[Chri$]

Personally i wouldn't risk it as you've just completed treatment. Is there any chance you could get some filter media from a friend with a mature tank?

 

[chardonnay1000]

no i dont know anyone else in the area, i have looked at the media donors and there arnt any within a hundred mile radius,,,thanks anyway.

 

[Underwurlde]

Also would a big water change get the nitrites down any quicker

Yes, of couse it would, but that is not the idea of cycling - you want the growing bacterial colony in your blue filters to gobble up ammonia. This produces nitrite which another set of growing bacteria gobble up to produce nitrate.

Hence performing a water change will not speed the cycling up, rather I think it would slow it down as you would be starving the nitrifying bacteria (I think).

It would seem obvious that you still do not have enough bacteria in your colony and this is where the idea of seeding comes from - you take some bacteria from an established colony thus giving things a kick start. This I guess you know.

You can purchase a ready made colony from the shops.

Ask around for something called Bio-spira. Note: this stuff must be kept refridgerated.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=167649
TBH, I've never used it, but it appears to work!

Finally (if you're still awake) I would say that you can safely add some of your cycled media from your recently med'd tank into your new tank to speed things up.
BUT
You'd have to wait at least THREE WEEKS before adding any new fish! (By waiting 3 weeks any threatening diseases would have died off due to the lack of a host).

GL

Andy.

 

[chardonnay1000]

I have read mixed reviews about bio spira, im not sure, it seems too good to be true!!.. if it was that good wouldnt everyone be using it.
maybe i too sceptical..ha ha or maybe i should give it a go..It does seem pricey tho £16.00..hmm that would pay for an xbox game for one of my boys..

 

[Underwurlde]

If I were you I'd put that £16 towards a much needed (and way over due) operation for your kitten.

Andy

 

[chardonnay1000]

oh we have a joker