Cycling - Zebra Danio's

J

joshua969

Registered Member
May 22, 2006
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0
0
Joliet IL
Hello,

I'm a total newbie to the hobby and I just had a question about "cycling". I started a tank last Sunday with 9 zebra danio's in a 55 gallon tank. I've been testing the water daily, and I haven't seen any increase in amonia yet. I also used Biozyme which is dried bacteria used to "jump start" the cycling process. Does anyone know when I may see the amonia start to climb, and keeping in mind my tank was started last Sunday, when might the complete cycle be complete ? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
The tank has been running for just over a week? Zebra danios don't have a very high output but I would think you would see some ammonia. What kind of tests are you doing? Brand of test kit? The biozyme is a waste of money, IMO, but you can add Bio Spira, which will jump-start your bio-filter. What type of filter/s do you have running on the tank? Need all the info you can give.

Mark
 
I'm testing for amonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, hardness, and alkalinity. I can't remember the brand. The filter I have is a Marineland bio-wheel filter (the kind with biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration). It's the model that handles up to 70 gallon tanks I believe. I appreciate the help very much.
 
It will probably take a long time to cycle this tank - maybe a month or more. The danios don't poop a great deal so ammonia will not spike too high and cause a faster cycle. On the other hand, the ammonia levels won't be burning your fishes gills either. So, you will have to be patient and wait. My husband cycled his 75g with 5 moss tiger barbs. The ammonia never really did spike but after a month to 6 weeks had nitrates and no ammonia/nitrites at all.

When you do get to these readings, go VERY slowly when you add other fish. You won't have built up a huge biofilter and if you add too many fish too fast you'll end up with problems, big ones!
Cathy
 
Try this article for more information Cycling a tank

Danios may take a little while to create a readable number. Do not add more fish though it will just increase your work level. The cycle will estabilish at roughly the same Speed with a few small fish or a tankfull of fish. the only real difference is how many water changes you will have to do each day.

As far as I know Bio-spira is the only bacteria in a package product that actually works So I agree that using anything else is a waste of money. additionally most of the products sold add to pollutant levels and compound problems. The article linked above discusses all of this in depth.
Dave
 
It would be kinder on the danios if you could take them back to the lfs and get some more after the tank cycles. Read the stickies at the top.

Mark
 
Dave,
When my husband cycled the 75g with the 5 tiger barbs, we didn't do any water changes at all that I remember. The ammonia never shot up more than .5 I think... the tank still cycled, just very very slowly.

I do think however the best way to cycle is with straight ammonia and high temps. Cycled a tank in less than a week or 10 days once...

Cathy
 
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