New 36 hal. tank cycle ?

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shermom

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Apr 1, 2008
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We are checking the amonia level 2 times a day and getting a reading of between .25 and .50 (we are testing with the api liquid test kit) We are then changing the 75% of the water 2x a day. Is the bacteria level going to build up even with the new water? We moved some gravel and filter from a 10 gal. established tank. Also adding liquid cycle 2x a day as directed by petco emp.
We have a 6" goldfish, pleco, 2 Gourami, 1 spotted catfish, 1 sick swordtail, 2 tigerbarbs, and black skirted tetra.:help:
 
The water change will not affect the cycle but it may save the fish you have in there.
I definitely do not understand your fish stocking. The sword, pleco, tiger barb, gourami and blackskirt are all tropicals that should be kept at least in the mid 70s. I'm not sure what you mean by a spotted catfish. The goldfish is a cold water fish that will find tropical waters too warm and thus too low on oxygen. These fish would be best off in at least 2 separate aquaria. The 36 is probably big enough for the goldfish by itself but it seems like it would be a bit crowded with the rest of the fish in there with it.
 
Yeah, I'm not sure how it will effect the cycle. It should be alright, but I'll let someone else answer that has more experience.

OldMan47 said:
The water change will not affect the cycle but it may save the fish you have in there.
I definitely do not understand your fish stocking. The sword, pleco, tiger barb, gourami and blackskirt are all tropicals that should be kept at least in the mid 70s. I'm not sure what you mean by a spotted catfish. The goldfish is a cold water fish that will find tropical waters too warm and thus too low on oxygen. These fish would be best off in at least 2 separate aquaria. The 36 is probably big enough for the goldfish by itself but it seems like it would be a bit crowded with the rest of the fish in there with it.
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As far as the goldfish goes, it being six inches, I assume you have had it for a while? If its already adapted to the higher temperatures its best to leave him like that, going back to cold water at this point will probably not be the best thing for him.
 
new 36 gal. tank cycle

We have had the goldfish in a 10 gal. tank along with 2 tigerbarbs and 1 black skirted tetra and pleco now for about 3 years. The tank got a crack in the glass and the goldfish also got too big for it. That tank was heated to about 75 degrees. So we decided on 36 gal. Not knowing we shouldn't get more fish I got 2 swordtails (1 jumped out), a spotted catfish and 2 gourami. Now there's all these fish that I don't want to lose. The amonia level requires water changes, I just want an idea of how long you think it may take to cycle? I'd appreciate any info. you could give me!
 
Sounds like too many fish to cycle a 36 gallon tank safely especially with the goldfish in there since they create a lot of waste. Keep doing the water changes and testing your water. It is the only way you can possibly keep the fish safe from the dangerous levels of ammonia and nitrite building in the tank. Cycling can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks typically.

Marinemom
 
basically the water changes slow down the cycle, because you are removing the food source which the bacteria need (ammonia, and then soon nitrite). however, with fish in the tank, you have no choice because any ammmonia or nitrite can cause illness and death; you must change whatever is necessary to maintain both below .25 ppm.
 
Water changes will have little or no effect on the cycle. Most of the bacteria needed to support life in your aquarium lives in the filter , on the substrate, on the walls of the aquarium, and on the objects in the aquarium such as the plants(fake or real) and the other decor in the tank.Very little of it actually lives in the water column. Since this kind of bacteria grows so quickly, you can do as many water changes as you want and the cycle will continue on at its own pace.Because you have so many fish in the tank right now when you are trying to get through a cycle, it is absolutely necessary to do the water changes to keep the fish safe and so they will not be permantely damaged..You want to keep the ammonia and the nitrite at or below .25 during the cycle. If it is more then that then you will need to do a water change. You can do them back to back if you need to. When the bottom drops out and your readings are sitting at 0 consistently with a nitrate reading of less then 40 you will then know that your cycle is complete.

Don't be afraid to do water changes! Right now, they are your best friend. Your fish will appreciate them too and thank you for it.

Marinemom
 
Well, what are the ammonia readings on your tap water? What conditioner are you using?

The "liquid cycle" is a snake oil fom a misinformed LFS employee.

Do the water changes since you are in the midst of a fishey cycle and inappropriately stocked.

While it is true, that the water change will not remove the bacteria that is developing, it will reduce the food available to the bacteria since it is in the water column. It is kind of a trade off betwweeen the two.
 
Marinemom said:
Water changes will have little or no effect on the cycle.
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I agree with all of what marinemom said except that one thing on a point of clarification only; as long as you are caught with fish in the tank, as you are, the water changes slow down the cycle process; because the bacteria are being denied food by the water changes and while the bacteria do not in the majority reside in the water column their food source does. As marinemom says, this however is something you will just have to cope with by water changing, because you have fish in the tank.

The alternative, where water changes are not required, is to cycle with an inorganic source of ammonia, as per here where you will see the two methods described and compared http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
 
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