Cycling new tank

[FishHobby99]

Cycling a new 20 G tank for

soon to be purchased axolotl. Have Tim’s One & Only, his ammonia & API conditioner. Person who sells axies also has cycled sponge filters. Decided to use one of my own. Took chem readings. All good as I’d expect. No animals, no waste, no food.
Not sure if I’m supposed to feed sponge BB or not or what to do.
Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[Guyb93]

I’m no expert on water chemistry but with an established sponge filter and just the axies I’d think you would just get by ok with light feeding for a few days any wood or rocks that you can’t transfer over from an established tank would help also

 

[Myraan]

I would test the water first to see what you starting at. As you have Dr Tim's ammonia and stuff, I would follow the instructions to dose with correct amount of ammonia and the bottled bacteria (I am not familiar with the product). 24 hours later test the water again. If you are lucky the sponge and the added bacteria will have dealt with the ammonia and you are good to go. Check that both ammonia and nitrite are zero. If you are paranoid add more ammonia drops and check again the second day, and so on. If you end up checking several times be aware that you should have high nitrates, so remember to dilute them out before adding livestock. I would test several times a week or even daily after that for a few weeks just to double check the original testing wasn't too good to be true. But maybe that's paranoia....

 

[Essjay]

The strength of Dr Tim's ammonium chloride was changed a while ago, so the number of drops per gallon changed. It could be the video was made for the old concentration and they haven't updated it.

Bacterial starters can be used at a higher dose than the bottle says - more bacteria won't do any harm, unlike too much ammonia (it'll take a lot longer to get rid of too much ammonia)

 

[Essjay]

For Ammonium Chloride, 4 drops per gallon is the dose rate of the current strength. That should give an ammonia reading of slightly under 3 ppm, though as most testers don't have a colour for 3 it's hard to tell exactly. Test half an hour after adding it to give it time to mix in. Then after 24 hours when there will hopefully be zero ammonia and zero nitrite.

For One & Only (the bacterial starter), it doesn't really matter how much you add, as long as it's enough or more than enough.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

View attachment 143834
Not sure if this is 3 or 4

I'm thinking 4 is close enough!

 

[FishHobby99]

TRYING TO USE THESE ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

'Tis the Devil's work!

 

[Chrenobeno]

Just as a quick note, I’m cycling an 120g tank and added tsp of ammonia (100 drops) and half an hour later it was up to between 2ppm and 4ppm so the doses on the bottle are spot on. (Started at 0.25 ammonia)

 

[FishHobby99]

Think I am on day 6 of the Timmy Plan. Says to add more ammonia. The readings are decent, so I won’t. NH4 at .25. Zero nitrite. NO3 at 5.0.

I muddied the waters by tossing a few cycled sponge filters into tank as I was anxious to get axolotls. Later bought a pair in a cycled tank.

May use this tank for fancy goldfish & lotsa plants.