Setting Up New Tank

[crackmonkey]

Just got a Juwel 180 Litre and it's going to be a freshwater puffer tank, South American Puffers if I can get hold of some. But I have a few questions.

1: Should I start from scratch and wait a few weeks for the tank to cycle or should/could I use 25% - 50% water from my 240 litre Discus tank and fill the rest with fresh, or would I still have to wait a few weeks for the Juwel Filter to create bacteria?

2: I'll be running an external filter along with the Bio Juwel filter, but can I just use the external filter as a 'polisher' for water clarity without using biomax or carbon just use it to clean and use the Juwel filter for the beneficial bacteria? Also would this be a good Idea in my Discus tank too?

 

[Durbkat]

Did you just set it up? If so you will have to wait for it to cycle for 2 weeks for the bacteria to build up. And if your filter media from your other tank fits into your new tank then you can put it in their to help speed up the process and adding some gravel from the other tank will also help speed it up.

 

[kimbowee]

You can not cycle a tank by just leaving it run for a couple of weeks. The bacteria will not grow without a source of food (ammonia). For more info on cycling your tank you can go here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

Since you already have an established tank you can actually just clone the tank you already have. Take your new filter and run it on your old tank for about 2 weeks along with the filter you already have on your discus tank. When you are ready to add fish to your new tank take an ornament, some old gravel & your new filter from your discis tank and put it in your new tank. I would give the new filter at least 2 weeks on your old tank in order for it to build up some bacteria before switching it back to your new tank.
I just cloned my first tank a couple of weeks ago the same way. I have tested water stats every day & have never had a spike in ammonia or nitrites. They have remained at 0 the entire time.

Also, I do not use carbon in any of my filters unless I am trying to remove a medication.

Hope this helps!

 

[crackmonkey]

So just using water from the old tank wont really help unless I put the filter in the old tank for a while then put it back? Which filter were you talking about the Juwel or external to put in old tank? How about these water cycle supplements that claim to speed up the Bacterial build up in new tanks?

 

[Durbkat]

Well I cycle my tanks within two days. And the fish live.

 

[Fish_Mike]

As far as i've read, only Bio-Spira really works, but after using it, (again, as i've read. Never used it myself) your tank becomes dependent on it and you would need to keep buying more. It's pricey!

The best way is to either A: clone your tank or B: do a fishless cycle

Also, adding old water from another tank doesn't really do anything to aid cycling.

 

[kimbowee]

I would personally use the Jewel filter on your old tank for about 2 weeks. I have never owned an external filter so I can not give you any advice on those. Also, after you move the filter back to your new tank take some gravel & an ornament from your old tank. Make sure you add the fish right away. If you don't the good bacteria will die.

From what I have read the only product that really helps cycle a tank is Bio-Spira but I do not have any personal experience with it. Don't waste your money on Cycle, also sold as Insta-Cycle. Have heard way too many have problems with it & they wind up putting their fish through twice as long of a cycle and wind up doing it the hard way anyway. This is a personal opinion though.

Doing a fishless cycle or cloning your tank really are the only ways that I know of that will not overstress your fish. The Ammonia and Nitrogen in the cycling process can either 1) cause stress, leading to an outbreak of some kind of disease 2) poison your fish causing shorter life spans or 3) killing the fish.

I've never heard of cycling in two days. You can cycle using fish and some hardy fish will live but as mentioned above, with what consequences.

If it will help, Go to the top and click on My Assistant. Then in the Search Posts for area just type in "seeding." You should get the most recent posts with info on how other people clone or seed their tanks. It may help give you a better idea of whats best for you.

 

[crackmonkey]