Speeding up cycling?

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karen99

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Nov 21, 2005
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I have a friend who is moving and wants to give me his African cichlids. I intended to have the tank ready and cycled before taking the fish, but there were some delays (filter I ordered arrived broken, trouble building a stand, ect.). Anyway, I NEED to take these fish in the next few days - which means putting them into an uncycled tank.
The tank they are in has an UGF and I can take a bit of the gravel, but he would like to keep most of it. I can also put the filter sponges from my planted tank into the 2 cichlid tank filters, but the planted tank has only maybe 1/4 the fish load the cichlid tank will have.
Basically, I am wondering if this will be adequate to get the new tank cycled without injuring the fish. I will check ammonia and change water daily if necessary.
Or would adding a product to speed cycling help? I thought I read that Biospira was supposed to speed cycling - does it work?
 
Everyone here says Biospira works really well.

I got a cycle in less than a week just from seeding my 80 gallon from my 20 gallon.

I started with only three danio though ...

Never had an ammonia spike but my nitrites went right up there ... they're finally going down very fast so I added some boesami after doing a 50% water change and using prime >.>

I'm hoping i'll be alright.

So far no ammonia ... >.<
 
Many people swear by Bio Spira. You can add your fish immeaditely. Follow the directions exactly!
 
I used Biospira to get my 10 gal cycled. It took a little over a week, but I added it after the fish had been in for about 2 weeks already. I have read that if you add it as soon as you set up the tank with fish, it cycles much quicker. I was not able to find it in my area, so I had to order it.

here is the link to where I ordered mine

http://fishstoretn.com/
 
In stead of Biospira you may try taking some filter media from the old tank. An old filter cartridge, filter sponge, or bio balls will transfer lots of bacteria. It may not completely cycle the tank, but there is a good chance it will. Also taking old gravel and decor can really help to seed a tank with bacteria.


You may still go through a mini cycle, but with lots of water changes you can keep down fish stress levels.
 
In addition to the gravel you get from your friends tank call some of the local LFS, they might suck up some gunk for you to put in your tank.
This is what I did to help speed the cycle. My Nitrites are up but Nitrate is also climbing now telling me I'm getting close to a done cycle.
Ammonia has stayed 0.
 
I would not recommend getting "gunk" from a tank at a LFS to speed up the cycle. All that gunk is just uneaten food and poop, not the bacteria you need. Of course it could also have snails, flatworms, ich, parasites....

Stick with the gravel you mentioned that you are getting, your filter pads and bio spira if you need to.
 
rbishop said:
I would not recommend getting "gunk" from a tank at a LFS to speed up the cycle. All that gunk is just uneaten food and poop, not the bacteria you need. Of course it could also have snails, flatworms, ich, parasites....

Stick with the gravel you mentioned that you are getting, your filter pads and bio spira if you need to.
Click to expand...

Sure, there's always that possibility.
In my case the LFS said he'd replace my stock for free if there are any problems.
 
dadof3 said:
Sure, there's always that possibility.
In my case the LFS said he'd replace my stock for free if there are any problems.
Click to expand...

If it works for you, that is fine. But many people go to great efforts to raise the fish under optimal conditions. In the cases such as this one where other fish are being brought in since their owner is moving, why risk all the hard work they have done? Bringing over some of the gravel and using the filter sponges from an established tank that you know the quality of, is better than taking the sewage from an unknown tank and all else it may bring.
 
. . . . not to mention I wouldn't want to lose any of my "stock" to impatience--I'm growing my fish from juveniles and have alot of time, money and emotions attached to them. Plus, why risk their lives? I just did a 4 day seeded cycle with 2 filters, gravel, a large plastic plant with lots of texture and some rocks. At present I am at 0 am., 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Slowly adding fish, and they're doing fine (knock on wood) and I know that everything I used to cycle was safe.
 
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