Simple Fishless Cycle Question / Confirmation

[Tropical_Fish]

I'm about to start my fishless cycle hopefully at the weekend.

As some will know from my other posts - I had to make a repair to the tank, and it's currently full of water in the utility room to make sure the repair is OK.

My plan was, to leave it a few days, the to empty the tank and move it back to the living room, then refill the tank and start the fishless cycle.

But I was just thinking...

It might be better to leave it in the utility room - I can cover it up easier to reduce algae growth, and it would give a longer test for my repair to the tank! So in that case could I just add dechlorinator, attach the filter and heater and start adding my ammonia? Then once the cycle is complete drain all the water out and move the tank to the living room and refill?

If that's all OK should I put the gravel in the tank before hand? or add the gravel after the fishless cycle?

 

[Curiosity101]

Yes just add de-clorinator, filter, heater and ammonia.

Yes once cycled drain and move to final location (making sure you pop the filter into a bucket of old tank water to keep the filter media wet.

Can cycle with or without gravel. If you're going to be moving it once finished cycling then I'd leave gravel out.

But on the day of the move make sure everything is ready to re-assemble the tank as quickly as possible. Die-back without an ammonia source wont be too bad over a couple of hours. But obviously you want to minimise the amount of time before the filter is running again with ammonia.

 

[Rooster]

Sounds an excellent plan !!! Theres no need for anything else in there, other than the filter.... so leave the gravel etc until its sited.

 

[Tropical_Fish]

Thank you for the advice,

Once setup in the new location is there anything that needs to be done?

My idea was to..

Empty enough water into a large bucket then run the filter in there to keep the bacteria alive

Syphon the rest of the water out into the drain

Move the empty tank

Put the prewashed gravel (will have run boiled water through it before I start all this) into the tank

fill up with fresh water, with a kettle or two of water thrown in to get the temperature up quicker (incase the bacteria is sensitive to cold water?) about 3/4's full

then mix in the dechlorinator in the tank (that will allow me to use the hose to fill the tank quicker), then wait a few mins to make sure the water has been treated

Now transfer the filter over

Setup the heater

Put in all decorations etc

Add some ammonia, and check later to make sure the filter is still processing it.

Then add some fish the next day. Think I'm going to start with a handful of guppies


Does that all sound OK?

 

[Curiosity101]

You don't need to actually keep the filter running. Just keep it in some tank water so it stays wet.

Temp wont affect the bacteria, presuming the water in the tank is 10 degrees or above I wouldn't even bother trying to warm it up.

Everything else sounds great.

 

[Rooster]

Thank you for the advice,

Once setup in the new location is there anything that needs to be done?

My idea was to..

Empty enough water into a large bucket then run the filter in there to keep the bacteria alive

Syphon the rest of the water out into the drain

Move the empty tank

Put the prewashed gravel (will have run boiled water through it before I start all this) into the tank

fill up with fresh water, with a kettle or two of water thrown in to get the temperature up quicker (incase the bacteria is sensitive to cold water?) about 3/4's full

then mix in the dechlorinator in the tank (that will allow me to use the hose to fill the tank quicker), then wait a few mins to make sure the water has been treated

Now transfer the filter over

Setup the heater

Put in all decorations etc

Add some ammonia, and check later to make sure the filter is still processing it.

Then add some fish the next day. Think I'm going to start with a handful of guppies


Does that all sound OK?

thats fine, yes... but the filter will be fine for a few hours.... no need to run it whilst out of the tank, but make SURE you dechlor before putting it back !
I would fill the tank an inch or so, then add ALL the dechlor you need, then top off.... make sure it gets a good mix.
Dont be tempted to add water from the hot tap.... give it a kettle or two if needed, or just let the tank heater bring up the temp.
The cycle will happen quicker if the tank is heated from day 1.... but once cycled there no need to keep it at a certain temp , so no worries during the change over.

The best bit is you have it doing the do out of sight.... there nothing like a watched kettle ! LOL It WILL take weeks, maybe months....

 

[Tropical_Fish]

Great - sounds like a plan,