Fishless Cycling in a 40 gallon.

[NeonFlux]

Okay I just found out that my tank is actually a 55 gallon instead of a 40 gallon the fish lady wasn't sure so she said 40 gallon that day, but until later today one of the fish employees said it's a 55 gallon, heh i was shocked. I used up about 3 days of cycling so thats like 30 ml of cycle in a 55 gallon, just bought Biospira pouch enough for 30 gallons. the employee guy said to just pour bio spira in and just put your fish in because everything's pretty enough.

 

[southpaw]

The "Cycle" stuff is pretty much useless.....makes alot of claims but most people that have used it say it pretty much does nothing.

When adding the Biospira you will have to add a source of ammonia...so you can do this by adding pure ammonia or like the employee said by stocking it with fish....If adding fish just be sure to test your water pretty regular and do however many water changes are needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels below .25ppm

 

[NeonFlux]

The "Cycle" stuff is pretty much useless.....makes alot of claims but most people that have used it say it pretty much does nothing.

When adding the Biospira you will have to add a source of ammonia...so you can do this by adding pure ammonia or like the employee said by stocking it with fish....If adding fish just be sure to test your water pretty regular and do however many water changes are needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels below .25ppm

Right. So I should check ammonia and nitrite levels. I bought the Master water test kit, and so far,water is:

pH 7.6
HR pH 7.4
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0

Surprise!! erv:

I had a idea and used my 20 gallon bio bag, washed it a little and placed one bag to one of the containers the canister provides. I caught my fishes and placed them in a plastic ziplock bag, did the plastic ziplock bag dip method, dipped for 10 minutes, finally introduced my fishes to the new 55 gallon, and I poured in Bio-spira and little amounts of salt to my 55 gallon at the same time. My fish from 20 gallons is now in my 55 gallons!! Yay!. Fed them a lot before introducing them to the new 55 gallon, fed them again in the new tank when they so they wont "lose it" and forget me lol. Anyway, my fishies.

2 Silver dollars 3 inches
2 blood red parrots 3 inches
1 flowerhorn blood parrot hybrid fish 3 inches
1 Pure yellow/white angelfish1 inch
1 Golden Chinese Algae eater 3 inches

Is my fluval 205 for 40 gallons enough for 55 gallons?

I have been thinking about removing my flowerhorn, because it's really being a bothersome and semi-somewhat-aggressive(not super abusive, rather a pushover at what it gets it's eyes on). I might ban him.... Should I? Or should I wait a few more days to see what happens?Back of my driftwood has a hiding space..ahh we'll wait and see. Anyway is this my max space of fish? Or can I add more fish? I have been thinking about a blue Bristlenose pleco and maybe 2 discus fish and that shall be my final. I might remove my chinese algae eater in teh future.


Since I added Driftwood my pH should lower,huh.

 

[Rbishop]

You need more filtration and I wouldn't put a discus in that mix.

 

[OldMan47]

If your water parameters stay good with no nitrites and no ammonia, then you have an adequate biological filter for now for your 55. If the 205 is only rated for 40, I would be looking to add another filter to get the capacity up. The problem is that most filter manufacturers are extreme optimists. If they rate a filter for "up to 40" what they seem to mean is that a lightly stocked 40 might be OK with that filter. If you are like most of us, you do not end up lightly stocked so as a general rule you would buy the next larger size to be safe with typical stocking.
There are advantages to having more than one filter. You can clean them one at a time so that no mistake on your part could ever wipe out the entire biological system. If one fails you won't be completely without a filter, instead you will have time to buy a new one and get it going. The same concept applies to heaters but many of us end up with just one due to the expense of buying two.

 

[NeonFlux]

If your water parameters stay good with no nitrites and no ammonia, then you have an adequate biological filter for now for your 55. If the 205 is only rated for 40, I would be looking to add another filter to get the capacity up. The problem is that most filter manufacturers are extreme optimists. If they rate a filter for "up to 40" what they seem to mean is that a lightly stocked 40 might be OK with that filter. If you are like most of us, you do not end up lightly stocked so as a general rule you would buy the next larger size to be safe with typical stocking.
There are advantages to having more than one filter. You can clean them one at a time so that no mistake on your part could ever wipe out the entire biological system. If one fails you won't be completely without a filter, instead you will have time to buy a new one and get it going. The same concept applies to heaters but many of us end up with just one due to the expense of buying two.

I might go see if they can exchange for a bigger one. Should be a easy install where i can just unatttach the two tubes and attach like a 60 gallon fluval canister. sounds better,eh...probably costlyer + 30 dollars or s/t

You need more filtration and I wouldn't put a discus in that mix.

Yeah they are hard to care for...not too hardy fish

 

[Rbishop]

Yeah they are hard to care for...not too hardy fish

Well, I don't classify them as hard to care for, but they do like tings very stable and calm.

 

[NeonFlux]

Well, I don't classify them as hard to care for, but they do like tings very stable and calm.

I see

By the way, my fish are gasping.

 

[NeonFlux]

I might put some round 3 inches air stone aeration behind one of my plants. Do you guys have it the air receiver? Whats the quietest one?

I'll check water parameters.

 

[NeonFlux]

Water parameters

pH 7.2
HRpH 7.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0

... nothing gone up