alysonpeaches
Fish Crazy
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2008
- Messages
- 264
- Reaction score
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When I discovered this site I already had fish in my kids tank. I had 5 white cloud minnows as I was advised by the LFS to buy these to condition the tank. THEN I READ ABOUT FISHLESS CYCLING. Two of the minnows didnt survive but they both got caught in the small space behind the filter so I will never know if it was the cycling or the filter that did for them.
I was given a larger 96 litre tank and equipment to set up as a @grown up" aquarium but felt I still wanted to cycle with the fish in. This time I set up the tank and bought some plants from the LFS - they said if I had plants in I could stock my tank tomorrow (???). However, this time I was fortunate enough to be able to squeeze the older tanks filter media into the 96litre to seed it with bacteria. I did this a couple of times. It took 4 weeks for the ammonia and then the nitrites to climb and return to zero. I had 4 zebra danios helping me with the task and they remained fit and well. I had a bit of trouble with the plants though, they died off at first, but now they are showing new leaves. I had a bit of filter trouble, as I was running a second hand filter, and had to change it as it got noisy, but I kept the same filter media.
My conclusion is, if you can be patient, do the fishless cycling. But if you cant, (or you already have fish), get some mature filter media from someone and cycle with danios. The next time I set up a tank, I am going to run the filter first in my old tank and try it that way. Or I will put mature filter media straight in. I would also advise you all to be wary of the LFS advice: they are in business after all. I wouldnt advise anyone to fully stock an immature tank with plants, but its worth trying one or two if you fancy it. At one point I was ready to throw them all out and get plastic! Im glad I didnt though.
It is a very satisfying feeling when you have cycled your tank and your readings keep coming up at zero, but week 3 is the worst when you are waiting for your nitrites to go back to normal.
I was given a larger 96 litre tank and equipment to set up as a @grown up" aquarium but felt I still wanted to cycle with the fish in. This time I set up the tank and bought some plants from the LFS - they said if I had plants in I could stock my tank tomorrow (???). However, this time I was fortunate enough to be able to squeeze the older tanks filter media into the 96litre to seed it with bacteria. I did this a couple of times. It took 4 weeks for the ammonia and then the nitrites to climb and return to zero. I had 4 zebra danios helping me with the task and they remained fit and well. I had a bit of trouble with the plants though, they died off at first, but now they are showing new leaves. I had a bit of filter trouble, as I was running a second hand filter, and had to change it as it got noisy, but I kept the same filter media.
My conclusion is, if you can be patient, do the fishless cycling. But if you cant, (or you already have fish), get some mature filter media from someone and cycle with danios. The next time I set up a tank, I am going to run the filter first in my old tank and try it that way. Or I will put mature filter media straight in. I would also advise you all to be wary of the LFS advice: they are in business after all. I wouldnt advise anyone to fully stock an immature tank with plants, but its worth trying one or two if you fancy it. At one point I was ready to throw them all out and get plastic! Im glad I didnt though.
It is a very satisfying feeling when you have cycled your tank and your readings keep coming up at zero, but week 3 is the worst when you are waiting for your nitrites to go back to normal.
