View Full Version : Cycling
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-14-2003, 8:44 PM
I barely got a new 29 gal. today, and I'm going to start cycling it tomorrow when I get home from school. How long will it take to finish cycling? Here are the tank details:
it has artificial plants
has a piece of driftwood in the middle
has a rock structure in the back corner surrounded by plants
has pea gravel
about how long (in your opinion) do you think it'll be ready for me to start putting fish in? I'm already excited and impatient about getting my fish!
perhaps a week, but some cases are different. what kind of filtration?
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-14-2003, 9:12 PM
don't remember... i think its an emperor 4 a 50 gal.
ChilDawg
09-14-2003, 9:12 PM
What are you doing to cycle it? Read the stickies at the top here and those will help you...
Buy Bio-Spira if you want that quick of a cycle.
aquariumfishguy
09-15-2003, 8:55 PM
A proper cycle takes much longer than "one week". Infact, even with Bio-Spira it can take as long as 4-6 weeks to cycle. Also, it sounds like you think the water cycles on it's own but this isn't the case either. You must have an ammonia source (which you can buy at your local grocery store) to start a cycle of any kind.
If you'd like more info on properly cycling your tank, visit my website (its under my signature) and go to the cycling section. I'm sure you could find lots of info on search engines as well...;)
Matt W
09-15-2003, 9:00 PM
Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
Infact, even with Bio-Spira it can take as long as 4-6 weeks to cycle.
On what basis is this statement made?
With bio-spira the tank is cycled instantly if used correctly. That is the point of buying it. In fact if you don't add fish in 24 hours I believe the bacteria all die since there will be no food source.
JSchmidt
09-16-2003, 7:43 AM
No personal experience with BioSpira, but the numerous reports I've read from others who have access to it suggest it does pretty much cycle the tank instantly. Some have reported a minor nitrite spike, but it certainly doesn't take 4-6 weeks.
Jim
ChilDawg
09-16-2003, 9:25 AM
Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
Infact, even with Bio-Spira it can take as long as 4-6 weeks to cycle
I'm having a hard time believing that...perhaps you are thinking of one of the many "snake oil" cycling products out there?
Gunnie
09-16-2003, 10:51 PM
I will be using bio spira for the 3rd time tomorrow. Essentially it's the bacteria found in a cycled tank. You may have ammonia and nitrite spikes, but not enough to cause harm to your fish. Here's some information and comments from other sites.
http://fishgeeks.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=7372
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-17-2003, 9:00 PM
i don't have a biological filter though! +, I conditioned the water already! I've only had it cycling (w/ no chemicals) for 1day and my test readings show 100% perfect! My dad has already spent around $200 and doesn't wanna spend any more on chemicals... If my readings (test) show 100% perfect, why do I have to cycle it??? :confused:
Oh, by the way, my filter is a Regent Aqua-tech 20-40
Well of course your water tests perfect. You need a source of food to start the cycle. Without it, it is just tap water. You don;t pour a glass of water from the tap with ammonia and nitrites in it. What you need is to establish bacteria before the fish get put in so they won't suffer as the bacteria grow. You water will test fine but add some food to the water and then test it. If it can eat 5ppm of ammonia in a 24 hour period then you will be ready for some fish without worrying about the cycle having to grow and hurt the fish.
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-17-2003, 9:18 PM
ok... what do I have to do to start it cycling?
By the way, if I dont even start the cycle, how can it affect my fish?
PmAn2k3
09-17-2003, 9:25 PM
By the way, if I dont even start the cycle, how can it affect my fish?
As soon as you add fish, their will be a food source thus starting a cycle... Alot of people on here have different thoughts and opioions (cant spell ahhh) MY personal suggestion would be to cycle it with a pair of platties or a pair of convicts, most people say a fishless cycle is alot better, but all this chemical talk confused me in the begining aswell, so i cycled with fish... it will take about 3-5 weeks to complete the nitrogen cycle!
HTH!
get some 100% ammonia and get some test kits. doing the fishless cycle will introduce you to using test kits, watching levels, and learning a bit of what is really going on in your tank without putting fish in harm. you need tests no matter what so get your dad to spring for those as well :)
There is no sense cycling with convicts or platies if you want to keep goldfish. That would be stupid. Then what do you do with the fish thatwere used to cycle. You can't keep them with the goldfish. Do you return them so others can buy them already weakemed from enduring high ammonia and nitrite levels and they die an early death?
If you are going to do a fishy cycle then at least use the fish you plan on keeping. If your fish choice is one that is generally a weaker variety like neons or ottos then do every fish a favour and use the fishless cycle.
There is a sticky for the fishless cycle at teh top of the newbie forum GoLdFiSh_GrL. It is a great read and very informative. No matter what you choose at least take the time to get the facts from it. It isn't easy to make a choice if you don't have all the info. Your goldfish will live long happy lives if you look into cycling your tank this way.
Fishskin
09-18-2003, 4:28 PM
GoLdFiSh_GrL...you are a little confused about what "cycling" means. Please read more about it. I know you want to do the right thing....the right thing is to understand what it all means before you begin. You can cycle with or without fish...but your tank must cycle. That is just the way things are. The people who prefer fishless cycling ( and I am one) like not having to stress fish during a cycle. And cycling does stress fish even if it does not kill them. The people who cycle with fish have done it that way in the past ( I've done this , too) and believe that they are not harming the fish and do not want to wait 3-6 weeks before they can put fish in the tank. The truth is, it takes patience to be a successful fishkeeper and given the choice the FISH would probably prefer fishless cycling. Seriously, you have to make the decsion...but you cannot decide not to cycle. But please learn a little more first. I know it can be confusing when different people seem to be saying different things but the advice from most of the experienced people is actually very similar ( whether they do fishless or not ). Anyway, hang in there.
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-18-2003, 6:40 PM
ok... how EXACTLY do I start the cycle? please walk me through this so my fish can be healthy... My 200gal. I never cycled & my 4 Oscars are doing perfectly fine... but I want to cylcle this one. :D
anonapersona
09-18-2003, 7:10 PM
How many other active tanks are there in the house?
You can take the junk that is washed out of the filter and add it to the new tank and you will have all the bacteria you need.
What sort of filter is on the Oscar tank? A canister filter or hang-on-back type?
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-18-2003, 7:17 PM
uh, my 200gal. and my 1gal. with the betta in it. The 1gal. doesn't have a filter, but my 200gal. does... I think it has a pond filter, i'm not sure... but some people suggested I use Bio-Spira. How does that work? Oh, someone also suggested ammonia... you know, the cleaning solution one? How can I use it w/ ammonia?
anonapersona
09-18-2003, 7:46 PM
Why bother buying expensive stuff like BioSpira or doing a long complicated ammonia-fishless cycle when you have everything you need in the filter of the big tank?
Set up your tank, with gravel, filters, lights, everything but fish. The day before you get the fish, take the filter media from the big tank and get as much junk out of the filter as you can.
That might mean opening the canister and taking out a sponge and squeezing it in a bucket of tank water. Or, if there is a Hang-On-Back type filter, taking the filter sponge or cartridge out of that and swishing it and squeeze it to get all that dirty junk out.
Your Dad will need to do this for you, he will understand why and he should be very impressed that you know to do this. You do not, under any circumstances, want to mess with the filter without his permission!
Take that nasty brown dirt (bio-slime) and dump it in the new tankand add some to tthe tank's filter. Hopefully there will be so much dirt that you can't see through the tank anymore. This is GOOD dirt!
The next day it will be all clear, add your fish. Test for ammonia and nitrite daily, but you might not see any at all.
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-18-2003, 7:57 PM
uh... I consulted this w/ my Dad, but he said he prefers Bio-Spira, which does the cycle instantly... have you ever used it?:confused:
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-18-2003, 9:06 PM
anyone there? I need this info right now, because my dad wants to read this post...
Fishskin
09-18-2003, 9:25 PM
The simplest way to get the info is to go to www.fishgeeks.com and there is a wealth of information on Biospira. It does work but it is expensive and needs to be refrigerated, many LFS do not carry it, but it can be ordered on the internet. The previous advice about using filter junk does work. It does not avoid cycling, it speeds it up.I don't mean to beat a dead horse ( ?fish) but your tank will cycle regardless of whether you are aware of it or not. You did cycle your Oscar tank or the fish would not be alive. It is a process which occurs when you add fish to a tank, it is not a choice. If you start a tank you will cycle if it is to survive. You still need to understand the process. I realize the practicalities of your situation and the need to work with your dad...but what is the point if you wind up unhappy with dead fish? ( and an unhappy dad. ). Use "google" to get more info. THere is a lot on this forum...but sometimes not easy to follow..but people really do want to help.
GoLdFiSh_GrL
09-18-2003, 9:47 PM
can I just cycle it by leaving it running w/ no chemicals or filter junk?
Harry Tolen
09-18-2003, 9:52 PM
Goldfish girl. You need to do some reading. Follow this link and get yourself some of the books listed. At the very least, go check them out at the library.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5651
As for the rest, use Bio Spira if you want. But your results will be best if you do some reading as recommended above.
And now, it's time to "Say goodnight, Gracie."