Cycling

[Lawrence1584]

I've started up a brand new tank, brand new filter, heater, gravel. Do I need to heat the water for this cycle to be working effectively? I have used some water from my other tank which is a year and a half old, also filled my external filter with same water, should I put some food in to help cycle? I am aware that I am in the early stages (5 days), and have a dusty White residue on the surface, will heating the water clear this? All comments appreciated.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Heating will speed up the cycle. Is there any way of using your filter media from your other tank. It will cycle far far quicker.

So yeh get a heater crank it up to 29C check your ph and get it up to 8.4.

I presume you have a testing kit? And ammonia?

 

[Lawrence1584]

Thank you for your advice, yeah I have a testing kit and ammonia. I can't put my old media into the new filter. My old filter has smaller foam pads and is an internal filter. THe new one has larger sponges, ceramic rings etc and is a external filter.

 

[jnms]

Lawrence; why don't you use media from the filter of your current tank? The new one would then be instantly cycled...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Lawrence, you could cut a hole in the larger sponge for the new filter to fit the size of the smaller sponge from the old filter. This can then be placed into the new filter and you will then have a seeded filter.

The other option (not that there is anything wrong with it) is to just follow the regular fishless cycle procedure (Link is in my sig). It will take far longer and much more greatly test your patience! But, it is equally effective, just not as fast.