Starting A New/old Tank

[Bretzz]

I've just started up my 10-gallon aquarium again after about a year of it being stored in my closet. I've had it running for about a week now and I just have a few questions..

Do I still need to cycle it for a few weeks if I'm using an old filter and reused gravel/decorations, or will the bacteria have died out?

I'm thinking of putting Tiger Barbs in (4-5), what fish would go good with them? And are they hardy enough to withstand a fish-in cycle (Or a halfway done cycle)?

Or if Tiger Barbs are too aggressive.. any thoughts on Chichlids good for a 10-gallon? Do they require a lot of maintenance?

I'm also thinking of getting a snail, any tips about those? My tank is really clean at the moment so will feeding one be a problem?

Thanks alot!

 

[Katty]

I have no clue about tiger barbs so I have no comment on what goes with them.

If the filter and media has dried out or hasn't been "fed" (wasn't in a tank or container of water with an ammonia source), it has none of the bacteria you need since they'll have died and you'll need to do a new cycle on it.

Also, you might as well just fully fishless cycle the tank, then put the tiger barbs or other fish in and not worry about their hardiness to fish-in cycling. IMO it just seems like a big headache and a waste to make the fish go through that when it can be avoided.

What kind of snails are you interested in? Mystery/apple? Nerites? Tiny little "pest" type snails? They'll have different food preferences depending on which kind of snail you want.

 

[Bretzz]

How long should I wait to start putting fish in? Its been cycling for a week now, maybe a day or two more.

I was thinking Apple snail.. but I really dont know much about any snails. I want a snail that preferably wouldn't breed, but if it had to it would be a out-of-water egg layer so the eggs would be simple to remove.

 

[CTGoldfish]

tiger barbs would take up too much room (almost all barbs should have at least 30 gallons),try tetras most are small but they are schooling fish like most barbs
if not try Rasboras they are tiny but perfect for your tank size
also assassin snails are cool (they eat other snails) they also have a nice design,some mysteries might be good for your tank

 

[Katty]

Wait... By "cycling for a week", do you mean you've been dosing it with ammonia or fish food, or just that your filter and everything has been up and running for a week?

I personally don't keep apple snails, but they prefer vegetables and fish food over algae, so having them in a clean tank is no problem. They probably wouldn't be the type of snail to clean up a dirty tank anyways.

 

[Bretzz]

I've just left it alone, although I think the filter wasn't cleaned out very well from last time so I spotted 2 or 3 flakes floating around in the tank, and I've added a bit of extra water because of evaporation

The assassin snails look good, as long as they don't breed, but would they just eat the offspring?

 

[Katty]

If you haven't done anything in the tank with ammonia, food, or fish, then it is not "cycling" and you've basically just wasted time, for lack of better wording. There needs to be an ammonia source for anything worth-while to actually happen. Have you read up how to actually do a nitrogen cycle?

 

[Katty]

Assasin snails might be a possibility. You can't regulate their breeding though and they breed freely so they have the potential to become a "pest" like many other snails. They are said to breed slowly though.

Horned Nerite Snail (click for pic) Zebra Nerite Snail (click for pic) - You might be interested in these. They remind me of the assasin snails in coloration, but they will not multiply in freshwater. They will lay little sesame seed like eggs randomly across the aquarium but the eggs cannot hatch in freshwater. They need algae to eat though. I actually keep nerites so I can answer questions on these guys.

 

[Bretzz]

Well I've read up on how to do it but I didn't think I had to do anything to it unless I wanted it to be perfect..

Those snails seem cool, I'll have to see what the store I go to has though, I doubt they're going to have every type of snail suggested!

 

[Katty]

You definitely need to put work into cycling or you'll end up with some sick and/or dead fish. It takes about a month to complete a fish-less cycle, and longer for a fish-in cycle. Follow the instructions on a good fish-less cycling guide (There are some good guides right here on the site actually). While you don't get the instant gratification of adding fish to your tank ASAP, you'll have plenty of time to research, pick out the animals you want, find where to get them, decorate the tank, etc while you are cycling the tank.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Bretzz.
You are in a classic position with your tank. Although we would love to say that you could revive your cycle, the reality is that after a year it simply won't happen. Where does that leave you? It leaves you in an unenviable position of needing to start from scratch to cycle your tank. There are members on this forum who have volunteered to provide clone material as donors but that is not quite the same as having a fully cycled filter. Even with a clone you are facing at least a week of fishless cycling to get a tank ready for fish. I am one of the many people willing to work with new fish keepers to give them a good start with a clone but am far from unique in that respect. Have a look at our donor thread for someone who may be close to you. If you can connect with someone nearby, you will go through a fishless cycle in about a week. Otherwise you are probably looking at 4 to 6 weeks to get your filter cycled.

One of our biggest offers for a new fish keeper is our willingness to help a new person get a sample of the right bacteria into their tank. It can easily cut over a month from your fishless cycle process and get a good start on your own filter becoming mature. Please let us know, as soon as you can digest this, if one among us can help you get a good start.

 

[Bretzz]

What about the stuff you can buy in stores that will let you put fish in right away? Is that reliable?

 

[Katty]

Store bought stuff that makes claims like that are really just money-wasters. Unless the product is refrigerated and brand new it's useless since all the bacteria in the bottle would be dead. However, like Oldman47 said, you can find people on this forum (or even a local friend who has had a fish tank up and running for some time) that can give you some cycled filter-media. This will speed up your cycle but it will not be immediately ready for fish.

 

[Bretzz]

Well we have a small Betta in a bowl which is about 5 years old and half-dead, If I took some water from there or even left a cartridge in there overnight would that help any?

 

[OldMan47]

I am sorry to say that any product that I have tried that said it would shortcut the cycle has been a waste of my money. I am now of the opinion that any such product must prove itself to me before I will endorse it. My own experience runs to many of the more commonly available products but does not include any successful products. In my own opinion, not necessarily that of TFF, the products offered today for a rapid cycle or for providing a start for your filter are nothing much better than snake oil. As was the case of the snake oil salesmen of the 1800s, the products claims seem too good to be true but the end result is no better than using nothing at all.
If you want a genuine head start in cycling a filter, please look at the donor thread that can be found using the link in my signature area. We have all signed up to help new people get started by trading around mature filter media for uncycled media. The end result for the experienced fish keeper is a sense of satisfaction by helping a new person get off to a good start. The result for a new fish keeper may well be a cloned filter in a week rather than the usual 6 weeks or more needed for a cycle that starts from scratch. I will take the mutually beneficial outcome of the first situation over the second any day.