I'm trying to set-up a used 45 gal tank using a fishless cycle. I know patience is a virtue but I'm 4 weeks into the cycle with no apparent results.
The tank is a used tank which was cleaned with plain water (36l X 12w X 24h). I started the first week at room temperature, weeks 2+3 @ 76 degrees and the past few days I increased temperature to 88 degrees. The tank contains all new items except for a powerhead 802 added to increase circulation and aeration. I'm running an emperor 280 as the primary filter. There are numerous artificial plants and 3 large castles as decorations. Some gravel between castles approximately 10 pounds. The water has a slight colourless cloudiness which may be from all the oxygen bubbles being pumped in by the powerhead. No signs of algae. Bio-Safe from marineland was used as initial water treatment. Clear Ammonia (HomeBest - Ammonium Hydroxide no phosphorus) was used for initial spike and 1 supplement spike when temperature was raised.
Testing shows the following:
chorline/chorlamines 0 (strip test)
Ammonia 4-5 ppm (seachem indicator/ master test kit)
Nitrites 0 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Nitrates 0 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Hardness 120 ( Mardel dip strip )
Akalinty 80 ( Mardel dip strip )
Ph 7.8 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Used tank was purchased from an Oscar owner who had stopped using the tank when his fish died approximately 5 years ago. Apparently the fish had hole in the head disease. Items provided with the tank included a number of outdated water treatments and medicines which I'm sure the owner had tried in an attempt to save his fish.
I tried using the old sponge and a few ceramic stones from a 8 gal Biorb to jump start the cycle. The Biorb is set-up as a cold water tank with 8 White mountain minnows. I don't have confidence in the biological filter of that tank. It has been set-up for 4 months and still needs my attention after every cleaning. The biorb system has you swap out the sponge filter every 4 weeks with a new one and I do not believe the special rocks provided are capble of maintaining the bio filter mechanism.
My minnows are ready to try out their new home if I can ever get it cycled. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
The tank is a used tank which was cleaned with plain water (36l X 12w X 24h). I started the first week at room temperature, weeks 2+3 @ 76 degrees and the past few days I increased temperature to 88 degrees. The tank contains all new items except for a powerhead 802 added to increase circulation and aeration. I'm running an emperor 280 as the primary filter. There are numerous artificial plants and 3 large castles as decorations. Some gravel between castles approximately 10 pounds. The water has a slight colourless cloudiness which may be from all the oxygen bubbles being pumped in by the powerhead. No signs of algae. Bio-Safe from marineland was used as initial water treatment. Clear Ammonia (HomeBest - Ammonium Hydroxide no phosphorus) was used for initial spike and 1 supplement spike when temperature was raised.
Testing shows the following:
chorline/chorlamines 0 (strip test)
Ammonia 4-5 ppm (seachem indicator/ master test kit)
Nitrites 0 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Nitrates 0 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Hardness 120 ( Mardel dip strip )
Akalinty 80 ( Mardel dip strip )
Ph 7.8 ( master test kit / Mardel dip strip )
Used tank was purchased from an Oscar owner who had stopped using the tank when his fish died approximately 5 years ago. Apparently the fish had hole in the head disease. Items provided with the tank included a number of outdated water treatments and medicines which I'm sure the owner had tried in an attempt to save his fish.
I tried using the old sponge and a few ceramic stones from a 8 gal Biorb to jump start the cycle. The Biorb is set-up as a cold water tank with 8 White mountain minnows. I don't have confidence in the biological filter of that tank. It has been set-up for 4 months and still needs my attention after every cleaning. The biorb system has you swap out the sponge filter every 4 weeks with a new one and I do not believe the special rocks provided are capble of maintaining the bio filter mechanism.
My minnows are ready to try out their new home if I can ever get it cycled. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
