i don't want to sound dumb

[rabbitlady]

ok , i am as you all know by now cycling my new tank.
i have read in here some things i don't understand and i want to do this right..
so first tell me what is seeding?
and if i wait what am i waiting for and how do i know this is all happening how many test should i do and what am i looking for when i do..
now when you answer tell me in terms i will understand.. i am still learning and i can pass this on to my customers at work too..

 

[yhbae]

Seeding simply means transfering some bacteria from your existing mature tanks. You can do this by transferring some objects from the mature tank into the new one, or in my case, I often smear the old sponge into the new one. (Even better, you can transfer the sponge itself, if you can afford to do so). You can also try to "wash" an established sponge in the new tank. (Be careful with this method - the first time I did this, I couldn't see anything in the tank due to all the released residues that was trapped in the sponge!)

The only tank that I have which saw any level of ammonia is the first one.

 

[rabbitlady]

ok thanks i can do this tomorrow i need to change my filter on the old one anyways and it will not be to bad i already have another one, i will only change one though my filter has two so that i don't mess up my other tank.. can i just place this one in the tank for a bit? and just remove it later right ?and how long do i leave it in there?

 

[yhbae]

Do you have two sponges per filter on both tanks? If that's the case, you can swap a sponge from each tank.

I normally like to keep the old sponges in the mature tank as most of my tanks are heavily stocked, and I don't want to introduce any ammonia spike, even a small one. Hence I prefer to smear the old and the new sponge together.

 

[punkserb]

or add potted aquatic plants. they helped move my fishless cycle on considerably.

 

[rabbitlady]

oh , i have two filters but we did change the ones on the oscars today they shut down on us today .. but i have two on the other 55 so i will take one of those.

 

[rabbitlady]

ok i took one of my old filters and switched it with a new one. leaving one old and one new in the old tank and i placed ever so gently the old one in the tank just between the rocks.. looks ok for now..

 

[yhbae]

ok i took one of my old filters and switched it with a new one. leaving one old and one new in the old tank and i placed ever so gently the old one in the tank just between the rocks.. looks ok for now..

Between rocks? I guess that one doesn't fit into the filter of your new tank?

If not, try to place it where it will be subjected to high water flow... That should help accelerate multiplication of the bacteria.

 

[rabbitlady]

no it has a different filter on it.. so how long do i need to leave this in there.. and yes it is right under the filter so it pulls it right in..

 

[yhbae]

If you can afford to keep it in there, keep it for another week or two. It takes time for bacteria to multiply to a decent colony because the initial population is very low. More you have to begin with, the cycling will be that much faster.

 

[rabbitlady]

that's ok i can leave it as long as i need to doesn't bother me except it looks bad.
i can handle it looking bad to have heathy fish..