Advice for Beginner

[Scoey1001]

Hi everyone,

I have recently acquired a second hand tank complete with filter and heater and was wondering if anyone could give me advice on cycling the tank as i have had lots of conflicting info. so far from aquariums shops/Youtube Videos/friends etc.

The tank is i think approx 200 litres (3x2x1.5ft) and the Filter is an aquamanta FX300.

The previous owner informed me the tank hasn't been in use at all for 2 weeks.

I have filled the tank and set up the filter and heater etc. and also left the existing substrate (black sand) in there.

Can anyone tell me the best way to cycle and give approximate timescales? (been told anywhere from 1 week to 8 weeks but from my research i am of the understanding that by using a recently used filter and substrate this can speed up the cycle?)

I do have test kits for ammonia and nitrate that came with the tank.

Any help would be much appreciated, i am prepared to be patient for as long as it takes as i want to get it right before i put any fish in the tank.

Thanks.

 

[Ch4rlie]

A 3 x 2 x 1.5 feet tank is nearer 250 litres

So that means even more choice for your when comes to stocking

As for the cycling, I'd highly recommend you follow this forum's cycling article, very much a tried and tested method thats proven to work time and time again if instructions are followed adequately.

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Its quite a learning curve learning how the nitrogen cycle works and don't worry, if you get stuck or unsure about anything, just ask, we are happy to help when we can.

For cycling you will need at least the following -

Bottle of Ammonia - found in certain hardware stores or easily obtained online. Best to look for ammonia with no added chemicals. Basically ammonium hydroxide at around 9.5% to 30% in strength dependant on which bottle you can get.

Water Test Kit - Try to get a test kit that contains ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. And also avoid strip dip kits, liquid or powder based test kits are more reliable and better value for money. API Freshwater Master Test is a popular choice amongst members of this forum.

And lastly, lots of patience as this can be a waiting game for certain bacterias to drop before you can dose ammonia again. The urge to do something while waiting for the cycling to get done can be pretty strong so a bit of willpower would be good as well

Cycling generally takes, between 4 to 8 weeks, provided instructions are followed and no water changes or changes to the routine unless specified or advised to if you come into difficulties with the cycling.

There are ways to quicken the cycling process, for example a bottle of Dr Tim's One and Only Nitrfying Bacteria or perhaps Tetra Safe Start has been done with success in most cases. Or if you have access to another tank then some media from the filter of that established tank/filter will give a nice jump start to the cycling (sponge/ceramics filter media but no more than a quarter to a third max of media otherwise you may inadvertedly cause a spike in that established tank and of course replacing what you take with new replacement filter media.

Good Luck

 

[Gruntle]

If the filter was on the tank 2 weeks ago, and the media in the filter is still moist, you might have a short cycle. The bacteria could have gone dormant, but because it was recently they should spring back to life (assuming the conditions in my first sentence).

If it's a new filter (or if the filter media is dry), disregard what I just said. And the only way to tell is by running the cycle as per Ch4rlie's post anyway.

Let us know how it goes! Best of luck too.

 

[the_lock_man]

I would agree that what Ch4rlie posted is the way to go - that way, you keep it all nicely controlled, and you get to fully stock once you're done. As Gruntle said, assuming there were some bacteria in the filter previously, they should simply have gone dormant, so giving them some food (ie ammonia) should see them spring back to life quite quickly.