Cycling Question

[oneponygirl]

OK here's the background, I got a cheap ten gallon set and set it up and got it running. Then my hubby won me a goldfish at the fair (yes, I know bad, bad supporting the fish-torturers). Sadly within a few days we had to leave on vacation so I couldn't test or do water changes for a week but I hoped that I would get back in time and start them ASAP. Nope, the poor fishy died on Friday according to our neighbors who were feeding our plethora of pets. My ammonia is .50 and my nitrites are .50 as of today. Will the tank continue to cycle with no fish in it or do I have to introduce another fish to get it to finish cycling? Or if I were to try finishing with a fishless cycle, how would I go about that?

 

[rdd1952]

Since you have nitrite, your tank started cycling from the fish waste but you will have to add ammonia to continue cycling without fish. There are numerous ways to do a fishless cycle. I prefer the "add once" method for lack of a better description. Just add enough pure ammonia to raise the level to about 5 ppm and the wait for it to drop back to near zero. At that point, add enough ammonia daily to raise the level back to around 1 to 2 ppm and keep an eye on the nitrite. Once the nitrite drops to zero, you are done. Do a big 75 to 90 percent water change to remove the nitrates and you are ready for your fish. You will be able to add pretty much your full stock since the tank is cycled. If you can't add fish right away, keep adding about 1 to 2 ppm of ammonia daily to keep the bacteria fed.

 

[ncjharris]

Maybe a better (and quicker) way would be if you could get your hand on some old tank media that already has 'friendly bacteria' on it.

Try your LFS, but if you do remember to transport it in a container with tank water in.

 

[oneponygirl]

I have two other ten gallon tanks that have filters that have charcoal in the middle of a fiber "bag", could I move this into the tank? If I do what does that mean for the tank I've just removed it from? This might be the easiest thing for me since I don't have ammonia right now and don't know when I could get some. Thanks all!

 

[modernhamlet]

Just run the new filter one of the other tanks for a couple of weeks alongside the old filter. Should seed it nicely for you. Stock slowly in the new tank after doing a 100% water change (no need for the nitrite laden water now).

What would you be stocking in the new 10g?

 

[oneponygirl]

One single goldfish (not one from the fair though) is going in the new tank as soon as I can get it cycled. I haven't decided exactly what type yet, I think it depends on what the store has. There is one that is a little farther out than the others but every time I go the stock looks awesome so I'm looking forward to choosing. And I'll have to keep my eye out for a good deal on a bigger tank for later but I've got a while for that.