Bare Tank Cycle

Zen4t5

Zen4t5

AC Members
Jun 2, 2006
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Northern NJ
Hi I'm in the process of cycling a 10 gallon tank. I am using it as a fry tank. It is a bare tank besides a sponge filter and 3 pieces of anacharis from my established tank. I put the anachris in to jump start the cycle. I have 2 black skirt tetras in there to cycle. Will it take longer to cycle because there is nothing for the bacteria to really to grow on? The walls, filter, and anacharis is all there is. Should I add something to help it? I want to keep it mostly bare. I heard it is a much easier to take care of fry in a bare tank.
 
Will it take longer to cycle because there is nothing for the bacteria to really to grow on?
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you've got that sponge filter for the bacteria to grow on. that will be fine.
 
Thanks!
 
Zen4t5 said:
I put the anachris in to jump start the cycle. I have 2 black skirt tetras in there to cycle.
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Plants/anacharis won't "jumpstart" a cycle--they will more likely interfere with the building up of good bacteria (because plants take up ammonia and nitrites, and there will be less or none leftover for your filter). This could lead to your cycle taking longer than usual. Plants are not recommended for a cycling tank because they can complicate the cycle, although they do help water quality.
 
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You can speed up the cycle some by squeezing out or swishing media from another tank's filter into the 10. Ammonia would work better than tetras for cycling.
 
Ms.Bubbles said:
Plants/anacharis won't "jumpstart" a cycle--they will more likely interfere with the building up of good bacteria (because plants take up ammonia and nitrites, and there will be less or none leftover for your filter). This could lead to your cycle taking longer than usual. Plants are not recommended for a cycling tank because they can complicate the cycle, although they do help water quality.
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You know what? I knew that. I've been researching planted tanks pretty extensivly the past couple of months. I am amazed what a basic mistake that was. I have removed the plants and have decided to just do a lot of water changes till cycled. Thank you for fixing my brain fart. :bowing:
 
TwoTankAmin said:
You can speed up the cycle some by squeezing out or swishing media from another tank's filter into the 10. Ammonia would work better than tetras for cycling.
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I'm going to do the fishy route. I don't really enjoy my black skirt tetras. All they do is not move unless it is feeding time. I know I have too few, so maybe their personality didn't come out. My 20G is fully stocked so I can't get more. Since they are hardy fish, I am using them to cycle. Then they are going to my friend's 55G community tank with 10 more black skirt tetras. They'll be happier there.
 
id just squeeze some guck from your old filter. I cycled an 80 gallon tank with 3 danio and gunk from my 20 long in four days.
 
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