David R Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 I've finally got my new 5' tank up and running. Filled it with about 2/5 old water from doing water changes on my other tanks and about 1/4 of the media has been sitting in the sump of my 4' for a few months, so hopefully that has given it a kick start! I'm not planning on putting any fish in it for at least 3 weeks until I can meet up with someone coming up from Christchurch who is going to bring up the sand I'm using (long story, but its only available from down there). So, is there any point in running the heaters for the next 3 weeks? Will the warmer water help the bacteria establish, or will I be just wasting power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 The bacteria will multiply to the maximum depending on the conditions. If there is no food (no fish) and no heat , you do not have the conditions that will be erstablished when you are up and running so I would think you will not get much cylcling going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 Agreed, it won't cycle without a source of ammonia. So, go buy some ammonia and dose the tank with a few drops a day. I think "Cloudy ammonia" at the grocery store is the right stuff. I've heard you should shake it, if it foams up it's the wrong stuff. Maybe more like a teaspoon every day would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 What the folks above have said. You have moved some cycle bacteria in with the filter media, but unless you supply them some ammonia they wont multiply, and will in fact gradually die off. One option is to get some 'crash test dummy' fish in there. A couple of goldfish, a bunch of danios or guppies. Something cheap and hardy. Because the tank is big, and the cycle has been jumpstarted they will survive. But by being there they will provide the system with some ammonia to keep things ticking over untill you get your permanant fish organised. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 Thanks. I'll put the heaters on, then get some cheap barbs or tetras that will end up as food when the big ornate is added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 ahh that would be mt somers white sand very hard to clean but looks awesome and plants love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEKA Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 Tell us more about this Mt Somers sand Spoon How does one get some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 http://www.urbanpaving.co.nz/sand-and-stone/sands/ Its not for plants either, I just wanted something with a similar look to silica sand but not as fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 firth out sawyers arms rd otherside of johns rd $11 a sack super fine white silica sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 Thanks, but I can get silica sand from the landscaping place 5 minutes down the road from me. The whole reason I'm getting that stuff bought up fron christchurch is because it isn't as fine as silica sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Agreed, it won't cycle without a source of ammonia. So, go buy some ammonia and dose the tank with a few drops a day. I think "Cloudy ammonia" at the grocery store is the right stuff. I've heard you should shake it, if it foams up it's the wrong stuff. Got GF to bring home a bottle of "cloudy ammonia" from the supy tonight, its the Home Brand stuff from countdown, looks like it froths a little though. Not safe to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Cloudy ammonia is not pure ammonia. I think ammonia, dead shrimps and all that is rubbish. Why not do what worked for grandad and just add fish slowly. That way the cycling bacteria are multiplying to form equilibrium with the actual load from the actual fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Because the only options I have for the first fish to add is a 15" ornate bichir who eats loads of meaty food and makes a lot of waste, or a redhead severum who I don't want to add first as he might get the idea its his tank [already gets pretty grumpy with the uarus]. Don't want to add the uarus as they're prone to whitespot, and I don't want to add the clown loaches for obvious reasons. If anyone has a big common pleco I could borrow for a few weeks it would be much appreciated... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 David's tank is 5' and he wants to get it cycled and ready. Whether it is a tank this size or a smaller one, if you are using fish to cycle does it matter how many fish you use. If you understand what I'm trying to say :-? , could you use 2 fish to cycle say a 10 gallon tank and 2 fish for a 55 gallon tank. Does the number of fish matter when cycling or once the tank is cycled to keep the good bacteria up? :-? :oops: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 What matters is the amount of ammonia the fish are producing in relation to the amount of filter media you are trying to establish, so two tetras might cycle a 10g no worries, but won't do much for a big tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Oops, sounds like I was wrong about the right type of ammonia. Cloudy ammonia isn't pure ammonia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Lucky it wasn't expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 Lucky it wasn't expensive. Lucky you're going to be washing a lot of floors in the near future to justify buying it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEd Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 I've found another way to start up a new tank if you have others, and they are disease free, is when you do water changes to fill the tank with this water. Obviously gravel vac water full of solids is probably not the best. Another thing I do when starting a new filter is to clean some sponge filters from my breeding tanks (or cannister foam) and soak the dry filter media in the dirty water and the bacteria is transfered and you can add some Cycle to if it makes you feel better but if you use enough there is no need. Don't leave the filter not flowing for too long as this will kill the useful bacteria you just added. When it comes time to ad fish (have done it after a week with no ill effects) do a 1/3 waterchange with fresh water and all should be honky dory .... as long as you added enough filter water! Take a fresh water sample along to your local fish shop and see if they'll check the quality for you. I always wondered if heated water cycled quicker ...... just presumed it did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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