Cycling From Established Media

jmarsh3253

jmarsh3253

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Apr 11, 2007
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I am upgrading from a 28G to a 55G that I am going to stock with Peacocks...I gave my Barbs in the 28G to a friend. I'm going to use some of the fake plants from the 28 along with the Aquaclear 50 filter. I am adding a new Rena XP3 as well. Since I am going to stock all the Cichlids at once, I know it's going to be a big bioload jolt, so should I still do a fishless cycle with ammonia? I know the plants and the established filter will jump start the cycle, but I just want to make sure the Rena gets established too to handle the load. What would you do? Thanks.
 
There won't be any fish in it so I'm going to sell it...2 55's was the best I could get away with as far as my wife was concerned :-)
 
You don't have to go through a cycle. Just hook up the filter from the 28 and the xp3 on the 55 and add a couple of the fish you want to add. Within a week the xp3 should be established. Test your levels to be sure. Add your decorations, lots of rock for africans, then add the rest of your fish.
 
If I do go with the ammonia fishless cycle, will the high initial amount of ammonia to reach 3-5 ppm kill off the beneficial bacteria?
 
Yep. You don't need to go fishless though. See how my sig shows I cycled my 110 in 5 days? I did exactly what I'm telling you to do. My 90 was instant cycled because I moved two Aquaclear 500s off the 110 to it.
 
It wont kill off your bacteria but it wont be necessary to add any ammonia. Just hook the filters up and add the fish. I would keep an eye on your ammonia levels to make sure you dont have any spikes and be ready for water changes. You will also be ok to just squeeze the pads and sponges in to the new tank form the established filters.
 
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