Preferred way to cycle a new tank?

[Squeakfish]

I just got a 40 gallon tank. It's a beauty, but it's just got gravel, a couple small rocks, and a large piece of driftwood (quite the floater) and by now, dechlorinated water. I do not yet have a filter, media, or even a cover (woot for tanks on craigslist..) but I should soon enough.
In the meantime: what is your favorite way to cycle a tank?

I was thinking of using the ammonia method (4-5 drops/10 gal/day until a nitrite spike, then halving until ammonia and nitrite are at 0 ppm).
Time isn't necessarily a factor, but I'd like to cycle the tank relatively quickly.

 

[KarlTh]

Since you've posted in the planted section, I'm assuming this will be a planted tank? If so, then just plant and start stocking. Planted aquaria do not cycle like fish-only tanks; the plants act as a buffer as they absorb ammonia and you will often not see any ammonia or nitrite in a planted tank if you just stock slowly.

 

[Coler]

My preferred way would be to use an established filter and/or some substrate from an established tank.

Some handy info here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

 

[BoredAgain]

My preferred way would be to use an established filter and/or some substrate from an established tank.

Some handy info here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

That's always the best way to do it, generally an instant cycle. If that is not possible, the ammonia method would work.

 

[Squeakfish]

Yea, I completely forgot to say that I'd have plants in there..
I DO have an established tank, but it's a pre-fit 5 gallon hex eclipse, with a fish in it already. Afraid I can't take it out, unless I can transfer the fish in the 40 gal at the same time.

 

[Ozymandias]

well there is bio-spire but that stuff is expensive. basicly my best sugestion would be lots of plants and some ammonia is you don't want to add fish imadialy. or you could start stocking fish slowly. ether way lots of fast growing stem plants and something like salvinia

 

[Squeakfish]

How much substrate/decor would be necessary to appropriately cycle the tank?

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

I prefer a silent cycle if I don't have any media.

 

[Squeakfish]

I prefer a silent cycle if I don't have any media.

Well.. I HAVE a 5 gallon tank, filter media in use, but I don't want to stress out my goldfish by removing the media and waiting until the 40 gal is cycled to place him in it.

 

[Coler]

A bit tricky. Ideally you would say run your filter for the 40 alongside the one in the established tank for a week or a bit longer to establish it but I don't know that there would be room to that.

You probably need more susbtrate to kick the cycle in the 40 up than you have available in the 5 to use.

You could put your Goldy in the 40 together with his 5G filter, and run your filter for the 40 in as well and this would get something going for you - I wouldn't be worried about stressing him he'd love the extra room

But if you don't want to do that :

1. Cut out half your filter sponge from the 5G filter, place in the filter for the 40 (don't rinse it or anything, keep it moist). Replace the bit you take out with new media.
2. Set up the 40 with its filter.
3. Start cycling fishlessly in the 40 (ammonia drop method); hopefully it will be quicker for you than a cycle from scratch, because of the boost from the old media.
4. Monitor the 5G carefully to make sure you don't have a spike as the bacteria catch up.

If your media is not easily divisible you could just squeeze it out into the new filter and you will get some boost from that.





5. consider larger tank for goldie (sorry had to say it )