Cichlid/Tank Cycling Question

T

tankenvy

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Apr 4, 2007
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Well, haven't gotten a reply to my post in the general cichlid forum, so here goes one more time:

I have a 55g tank that's heavily planted, been up for a week with 6 black phantom tetras to cycle the tank. To get cycle started, I added a sponge from a HOB filter from my other, established tank; some gravel from that older tank; some snails, etc. (The plants were also from the older tank, so I assume they had some beneficial bacteria as well.)

Question: would I be pushing it if I added 3-5 firemouth cichlids right now? That's my ultimate stocking goal--plus some cories, a plec, a few otos, maybe some more tetra dither fish--but should I wait 2-4 weeks for the tank to cycle with the existing dither fish before I stock the firemouths?

Also, will 3-5 firemouths be too much for this sized tank? Should I keep a breeding pair once they form, then move the others out to another tank?

Thanks.
 
Best way to know when you're ready for more fish is by testing with a quality liquid kit. If you reach a point where ammonia / nitrite are 0 and nitrate is rising, then you'll know you have both kinds of needed bacteria. Then you can add fish at a moderate pace.

Your stocking plan sounds a little aggressive to me. You may end up with the FM's whomping each other and/or the other fish. I think if it were me, I would build up the tetra school, then maybe a bushy nose pleco, then 4 firemouths. Would be good to have some kind of back-up plan ready though.

Good luck!
 
How much of the substrate came from the original tank?
Only one sponge pad?
Did you use water from the established tank also? or at least 25 gallons of it?
Did you de-chlor your new water if not ro/di reconstitute...?
I think 6 -8 inches of fish is hardly enough to start a good cycle, but that wouldnt matter if you used at least half of the 55's footprint, with the original substrate, and at least 25 gallons of the original cycled water...

Adding 4 firemouths are gonna overload your tank, luckily you have some plants to use up extra waste/nutrients produced by the larger fishes.

IMO, its too soon to add the FM's and you risk serious gill damage doing so. Although they are hardy... You want to reduce the chance of stress related disease... I say wait 1 month... Add four if medium planted, 2-3 if lightly planted, and 1 if sparsely planted, in addition to the others you want to add.

This is my opinion,

-Aaron
 
tyler79durdan said:
How much of the substrate came from the original tank?
Only one sponge pad?
Did you use water from the established tank also? or at least 25 gallons of it?
Did you de-chlor your new water if not ro/di reconstitute...?
I think 6 -8 inches of fish is hardly enough to start a good cycle, but that wouldnt matter if you used at least half of the 55's footprint, with the original substrate, and at least 25 gallons of the original cycled water...

Adding 4 firemouths are gonna overload your tank, luckily you have some plants to use up extra waste/nutrients produced by the larger fishes.

IMO, its too soon to add the FM's and you risk serious gill damage doing so. Although they are hardy... You want to reduce the chance of stress related disease... I say wait 1 month... Add four if medium planted, 2-3 if lightly planted, and 1 if sparsely planted, in addition to the others you want to add.

This is my opinion,

-Aaron
Click to expand...

I used eco-complete, only one sponge, no water from established tank--just dechlorinated tap water (Seachem Prime). sounds like I need to build up the tetra numbers to get the cycle going, test for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and let the results dictate how to proceed. Thanks!
 
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The water from another tank won't help you. And I agree that you will be pushing it for 3-5 FMs....better to just start with a pair now and not get the other fish at all. Good chance most your plants won't be there in the long run also.
 
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