Newb needing cycling advice

[Fish@Work]

Hey! Thanks for clicking! :)

I've got a 90 gallon aquarium. It has a fluval 403 and powerhead 802 for filtration. The tank was just filled on Friday (also added the specified amount of AquaPlus to get rid of the clorine). The tank has been circulating since. Now that the temp is up to 80F, I'm looking for advice on my next step. I think I'll be heading over to the LFS to see if they can spare some filter clippings to stick in the filter to get the bacteria going. What else can I do to get fish in there sooner? The tank is in our office and getting fish in sooner rather then later is a good thing since all our customers are seeing right now when they come in is a glass box filled with gravel and water. Thanks for your help!

Edit: Tank is freshwater.

[Kasakato]

Just some filter media, and some good old ammoina.

[Fish@Work]

I'm looking to cycle this tank quickly.

[mrakins]

Try adding Bio-Spira and then continuing with your fishless cycle. I haven't used it, but others have successfully (while it's failed for others--cave emptor). Based on that, I think it important to just use it to speed up your fishless cycle--don't throw fish in there without verifying.

[anonapersona]

Just follow the directions, add BioSpira first, then stock with fish right away.

I'd be careful about filter squeezings from the fish store, they tend to have a lot of stressed fish imported from who knows where and they get a lot of disease that way. Biospira is much safer.

[susiejames101]

I have just completed a fishless cycle with ammonia. It took 2 weeks exactly which I was very impressed with.
Good luck :)

[Fish@Work]

Talking with the LFS girl I added Cycle to the tank. The PH is at 8, which seems a bit high. I think I'll go back tomorrow and pick up a dozen feeders to start cycling with.

I don't see how cycling works with no bacteria in the tank to start with....

[Kasakato]

Talking with the LFS girl I added Cycle to the tank. The PH is at 8, which seems a bit high. I think I'll go back tomorrow and pick up a dozen feeders to start cycling with.

I don't see how cycling works with no bacteria in the tank to start with....

NO

-Bacteria is in the air and water already
-No feeders, what the heck are you going to do with them later?
-Cycle is useless
-A pH of 8 is fine in most cases
-If you want a fast cycle, you arent headed in the right direction. This way it will take 8weeks.

[moorfish]

i agree ,adding the feeders will only make it take longer.Just bite the bullet and give it a little more time.

[Fish@Work]

i agree ,adding the feeders will only make it take longer.Just bite the bullet and give it a little more time.

So what should I be doing to get ammonia in there? What is the next step? Putting ammonia in the tank or just letting the tank sit there.

[mishi8]

You will need to add a source of ammonia. Check out this info on how to fishless cycle:

http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_article.php?aid=31

[StreetCypher]

If you want fish in there ASAP, then you should get your hands on bio spira.

Cycle, although i've never used it, is generally seen as useless. Going the fishless cycle route will take long and needs a lot of attention, which, since the tank is in an office, may not get the attention it needs as well as being empty for a few weeks.

[Fish@Work]

If you want fish in there ASAP, then you should get your hands on bio spira.

Cycle, although I've never used it, is generally seen as useless. Going the fishless cycle route will take long and needs a lot of attention, which, since the tank is in an office, may not get the attention it needs as well as being empty for a few weeks.

I can't get BioSpira here unfortunately.

I need that fastest way to cycle possible. Thank you for recognizing that.

[Kasakato]

Now you can: http://www.fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

[Boohoo]

Listen when they tell you to take that "Cycle" back. I didn't know any better and used it when I cycled my first 10g with fish. I used it faithfully and it took my tank almost 8 weeks to cycle. My next 10g I still didn't know much better and cycled with fish. This time I didn't put cycle in at all and it still took almost 8 weeks. I could't get Bio Spira around here so I did a fishless cycle on my 55g, and it only took 19 days. It was alot less work too. Good Luck

[Fish@Work]

Now you can: http://www.fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

Is there a Canadian location?

[Fish@Work]

Listen when they tell you to take that "Cycle" back. I didn't know any better and used it when I cycled my first 10g with fish. I used it faithfully and it took my tank almost 8 weeks to cycle. My next 10g I still didn't know much better and cycled with fish. This time I didn't put cycle in at all and it still took almost 8 weeks. I could't get Bio Spira around here so I did a fishless cycle on my 55g, and it only took 19 days. It was alot less work too. Good Luck

I assume you had something to seed your 2nd tank with then?

[mishi8]

Is there a Canadian location?

BioSpira is not available for sale in Canada, and probably won't be anytime soon. I wasn't willing to chance ordering it online and have it stuck at Customs forever. I had family bring it back (refrigerated) from a trip to the US. It seemed to work okay with my fishless cycle.

[Kasakato]

No, but they ship to Canada. Why, are you in Toronto or something?

[Fish@Work]

No, but they ship to Canada. Why, are you in Toronto or something?

Chatham. Just down the 401 from you. :)

[Boohoo]

I did seed my tank with some sponges from my 10g.

[Kasakato]

I would sedd the tank, and just do a normal fishless cycle. Its the eaiset.

[ScottoMacD]

Ok.

Lets start with a couple of questions first.

What fish are you planning on keeping in this tank?

Do you have someone that can lend you a complete, seeded filter for a couple of weeks?

I am assuming that you just want something in the tank to begin and are not looking to go overboard on the bioload right away?

Now depending on the fish that you are planning on keeping. If it is something that doesn't need kid gloves to be maintained if you can get another filter cannister or HOB and run the filter at the same time as yours for a few weeks until the seeding is done and your tank and filter can maintain the small bioload of the fish you have on it's own.

I don't cycle tanks in the conventional way anymore. I just take a filter from one of my other tanks and slap it on the new one on throw a few cichlids in and I let it go. Once the tank is sufficantly seeded I take the borrowed filter off and go from there.

It works well as long as you are patient and don't over stock the tank right away.

[mooman]

I agree with scott. Maybe the petstore will rent you a sponge from one of thier filters. Make them an offer they can't refuse. Any local aquarium clubs in town? I always keep a few extra sponges in my eclipses filter tray now, maybe someone else does the same. Again, make them an offer they can't refuse. Look in clasified ads, and see if anyone is selling a tank, and see if thier filter is still viable.

In the words of the Wu Tang Clan: "Cash moves everything around me"

[Fish@Work]

Ok.

Lets start with a couple of questions first.

What fish are you planning on keeping in this tank?

Do you have someone that can lend you a complete, seeded filter for a couple of weeks?

I am assuming that you just want something in the tank to begin and are not looking to go overboard on the bioload right away?

Now depending on the fish that you are planning on keeping. If it is something that doesn't need kid gloves to be maintained if you can get another filter cannister or HOB and run the filter at the same time as yours for a few weeks until the seeding is done and your tank and filter can maintain the small bioload of the fish you have on it's own.

I don't cycle tanks in the conventional way anymore. I just take a filter from one of my other tanks and slap it on the new one on throw a few cichlids in and I let it go. Once the tank is sufficantly seeded I take the borrowed filter off and go from there.

It works well as long as you are patient and don't over stock the tank right away.


What fish are you planning on keeping in this tank?
Gouramis, neons, cherry or tiger barbs, cory cats, a pleco, and hopefully a synodontis of some sort.


Do you have someone that can lend you a complete, seeded filter for a couple of weeks?
No.


I am assuming that you just want something in the tank to begin and are not looking to go overboard on the bioload right away?
Yes. I don't plan on adding them all at once.

[Fish@Work]

Also another question, about lighting.

This tank will have live plants, but I worry about algae.

The hood holds 2 bulbs. Can I mix and match buls? I was thinking one Aqua-glo and one life-glo, or 2 aqua-glos.

[StreetCypher]

AFAIK, light does not encourage algae growth as much as an excess of nutrients in the water column. As long as you keep up with regular water changes and do not overfeed, you should be alright.