Please advise on my rebuilding progress

[PaulK]

I am currently in the process of rebuilding my 55 gal and transforming it into a Malawi tank. Here is what I have done so far. Please let me know if you think that I am on the right track. I am rather meticulous and paranoid. I have put a lot of time, energy, and money into this, and I REALLY want it to turn out and be successful.

I drained the tank back in May, cleaned pretty thoroughly with vinegar and water. Cleaned the filters the same way. The tank sat empty in my living room until a couple of weeks ago while I thought about what I wanted to do.

I again took the tank outside, cleaned with vinegar and Jungle Lime-Off, and rinsed repeatedly with water. I brought it back inside, scraped out the old sealant in the corners, cleaned with a razor blade, and replaced the sealant. After 48 hours plus curing time, I filled the tank with water to check for leaks.

In the meantime, I bought 60 lbs of Feller Stone lace rock from a LFS. I rinsed the stone, and soaked in water for 2 or 3 days. Rinsed again, then boiled each piece today for about 30 – 60 mins. I am soaking the rocks in water with chlorine remover overnight.

After 4 days with no leaks in the tank, I once again drained it and added the rinsed gravel.

Right now the tank is sitting with gravel and a few inches of water.

I have an AC500 on its way and will run this in conjunction with an AC200 with 2 sponges. (I am ditching my old BioWheel 330).


Tomorrow I hope to add the lace rock and refill with water and add the 2 Ebo-Jager 100 watt heaters. I will run the AC200 just to circulate the water until my 500 gets here.

Once my 500 gets here I may let everything sit for a few days before I add my cycle fish (probably danios). I was thinking about also using Cycle to help speed things up.

Please critique and advise my procedures.

PK

[TomFromStLouis]

Sounds fine. In fact, it sounds like more than I would do but I do not know the original condition of your tank. If you have indeed rinsed all the cleanser away, you should now focus on the cycling issues. Read up and good luck.

[Matt W]

Originally posted by PaulK
Once my 500 gets here I may let everything sit for a few days before I add my cycle fish (probably danios). I was thinking about also using Cycle to help speed things up.

You say this is going to be a Malawi tank. Are you going to keep the danios? I would do a fishless cycle. There is plenty of information on the internet about it. You will probably end up with a stronger biofilter to start with than if you cycle with danios.

Another way is to use bio-spira and just start everything off with the Malawi's you want. I have used bio-spira in the past and I can vouch that it does do what it says. Fully cycled tank from the get go.

[PaulK]

No, i was going to ditch the danios when done (give away). I would love to try the fishless cycle, but i dont think i have the guts.

Bio-spira? I am unfamiliar with that product. I will have to look that up.

PK

[Matt W]

It doesn't take any guts, just clear ammonia :). It is actually very simple. Much less to worry about than when you have the fish in there. Ammonia levels or nitrite get to high with fish and you are doing water changes...not needed with the fishless cycle. Just let it ride it out and wait for the bateria to grow!

[Matt W]

Ohh..and as to bio-spira:

http://www.marineland.com/science/nspira.asp

http://fishgeeks.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=7372

[JSchmidt]

Fishless cycling is very easy and is ideal for adding territorial fish like Malawi cichlids.

If you cycle with danios, you'll only be able to add a few cichlids at a time. This allows the first fish to establish territories. Every time you add new fish, there will be territory battles and you'll likely lose some fish.

When you cycle fishlessly, you can build a sufficient biofilter to handle a fully stocked tank. That allows you to add all the cichlids at once. As a result, territory fights occur only once, and you'll lose fewer fish in the end.

Cycle is completely worthless, IMO; save your money. If you can get some filter squeezings or gravel from a cycled and known-to-be-healthy tank, get those. Otherwise, BioSpira is a good choice.

HTH,
Jim