?possible To Hurry Cycling

[pinky37]

I had a major problem last night. My tank sprang a serious leak which is irrepairable. My fish are in a huge bucket with their heater and their airstones. I have a new tank which I have set up. Is there anyway of hurrying up the cycling process at all as I don't think the fish will last in the bucket for long. I spent weeks cycling the first tank many months ago but this is an emergency situation. I am sure you will say cycling takes time but do you think my fish will be Ok where they are till then.

I have Two large Discus and a few cardinals, a shark and the odd neon that has survived the Discus!!!! I obviously have no filter in there as used a undergravel one before. New tank has a better one re the discus as have been told UG filtration is not the best for them. If I siphon debris out daily will that be enough?

Any advise would be great as although I have kept fish for a long time I have never been in this dire situation before as I would normally do fishless cycles

Thank you

 

[Squid]

I guess most of the bacteria is in the gravel if you have used an under gravel filter, so if you take the gravel from the old one and use it in the new one, then at least this would help.

Other than that, you could try adding some of the bacteria cultures that you can buy from some LFS, such as bactinettes.

Or.. perhaps a squeeze from the filter of a friends tank if anybody has one near you.

other than that, perhaps one of the more experienced people on this board could help you

anyone?

Squid


BTW, i have posted it in the emergency section for you too.. Here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=119562

 

[WILDER]

The old gravel should be fine, do you have a filter with sponges, as when you removed the gravel from the old tank, you could drop the sponges into the muck at the bottom of the tank where the benefical bacteria is.

Right get a jug and tip the muck from the bottom of the tank into the jug then pour it into the gravel in new tank.

 

[pinky37]

The old gravel should be fine, do you have a filter with sponges, as when you removed the gravel from the old tank, you could drop the sponges into the muck at the bottom of the tank where the benefical bacteria is.

Right get a jug and tip the muck from the bottom of the tank into the jug then pour it into the gravel in new tank.

Oh damn it, in my panic I have cleaned most of gravel have added the remainder of the 'dirty' stuff but there isn't much. How could I have been so thick DUH!!!!

 

[rdd1952]

First, hello and welcome to the forum.

Normally, there isn't much bacteria in the gravel but since you had a UGF, there is probably quite a large amount in the gravel. I would say you could move the gravel over to the new tank but if it hasn't been kept wet and had water flowing through it, most of the bacteria could have died off.

You might want to try to find some Bio Spira. Everything Ive read says it works if it's been handled properly. Otherwise, although I'm not a believer in using chemicals, you may have to try to find something like Ammo-Loc to kill the toxicity of the ammonia. You might also want to ask your LFS if they know any one that could give you some filter media to seed your new filter (can you possibly use the media from your UGF in the new filter).

 

[pinky37]

Right have been to LFS and have got some friendly bacteria although they said its effectiveness is debatable. I have been told to do 30% water changes to keep the ammonia/nitrite levels diluted until the tank settles itself. Also to plant loads of plants and not to feed the fish for a few days to decrease pollution.

All seems well in there but early days I know. More worried about the Discus as they are so susceptable to minute changes

thanks for your help so far

 

[rdd1952]

Actually, they gave you good advice. Plants will definitely help process the ammonia and nitrite. And water changes and feeding lightly will keep the levels lower too. Sounds like you have a good LFS.

 

[daddyfish]

Actually, they gave you good advice. Plants will definitely help process the ammonia and nitrite. And water changes and feeding lightly will keep the levels lower too. Sounds like you have a good LFS.

I personally ONLY use Bio Zyme to help keep my tank seeded with Bacteria, In fact I put a little in my tank each time I change it.
It's all natural, Safe and keeps dang near forever, without refrigeration like is required with others like cycle.

And for the Ammo build up during the tank cycle, use Ammo Removing Crystals, just Place a cup or two in your filter and that will help keep you Ammo in check.

If your filters not big enough, Get you a pair of knee highs, and put some of the Ammo Chips in it, tie it shut, and place it in a corner of the tank behind some plants, and it'll still remove quite a bit of Ammo. Not as quickly as if it was in your filter, but it works.

Good Luck=Please Keep us Posted.

 

[morgan]

I use something similar, Stress Zyme. It starts off the biological processes and also you use it each week (if you want to!) and it helps to keep the tank clean. I also use Stress Coat to dechlorinate.

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

I wouldnt recommend stress zyme because as Ive posted many times before: It cant be live bacteria because it would need air circulation to stay alive or if in a dormant stage {the only way they could survive the conditions of a bottle} they would need to be refrigerated, to make them think its winter or something and would awake when once again in suitable conditions. But this lives on a shelf in a temp. 10 degrees colder than its natural habitat with no expiration date. It says it can work for saltwater and freshwater, but there is evidence to prove that the bacteria living in each of these conditions are in fact different. Plus, ive tried it lots of times with ABSOLUTELY no results. Try Biospira and if it has been kept refrigerated through shipping, it should work overnight. Ive heard and witnessed good things about it, more good than bad anyway.