Whats The Fastest Way To Cycle A New Tank?

[andrewcoxon]

hi guys,

im setting up a new tank as im aqquiring 4 zebra pleco's and im aiming to breed them eventually. my question is whats the fastest way to cycle a new tank?

cheers,

clint

 

[SamUK]

using an already established filter from another tank.

then theres lil things you can do to help like put some gravel (again from an established tank) in a sock and put that in the new tank.

 

[andrewcoxon]

using an already established filter from another tank.

then theres lil things you can do to help like put some gravel (again from an established tank) in a sock and put that in the new tank.

hi sam,

thanks for the help but it isnt possible to use an allready mature filter sponge as i dont have any that will fit the 2 new filters i have for this tank.

i read somewhere about putting pure ammonia in the tank speeds it up?

any other ideas..

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

If you want to use ammonia read the pinned topics on fishless cycling, this will take 4-6 weeks. Alternatively, run the new filter in an established tank for a couple of weeks or run an established filter in the new tank with the new filter for a couple of weeks. You would need to have fish in the tank or the bacteria levels will die off.

Also like sam said, fill a stocking with some gravel from an established tank and lay it in the new tank for bacteria to transfer. Zebra plecs are quite a sensitive fish and i would't add them to a newly set up tank even if it was cloned. Then again they are £150 - £250 each here and thats when you can find them.

Emma

 

[bogwood]

If you are thinking of adding ammonia then you are talking about doing a 'fishless' cycle... search for forum member 'rdd1952's excellent article on fishless cycling using the 'add and wait' method...

 

[diademhill]

If you are thinking of adding ammonia then you are talking about doing a 'fishless' cycle... search for forum member 'rdd1952's excellent article on fishless cycling using the 'add and wait' method...

I think this is a case of: if you have to ask such a basic question you probably aren't ready for this project.
What fish have you bred?

 

[Jules H-T]

run the new filter in an established tank for a couple of weeks

Precisely what I'd do.

 

[KrayzieVanh]

This is what I did and my cycle took 3 days.

Put the HOB filter into my established 37 gal tank for a week.

Day One
Set up the 10 gal, new sand, driftwood, and some baby plants out of my 37 gal.

Added about 5 gallon of water from the 37 gal (water change!) and put it in the 10 gal, filled the rest with de-clornated (sp?) water.

Put the HOB on the 10 gal and turned it on.

Added 3 black tetras from my 37 gal.

Day Two- Ammonia at .25, Nitrite at .25-.30.
Day Three- Ammonia and Nitrite at .00
Added 3 DP and 2 Oto's (removed 3 black tetras or course)
Day Four- Ammonia and Nitrite at .00

 

[jkrekord]

[/quote]
I think this is a case of: if you have to ask such a basic question you probably aren't ready for this project.
What fish have you bred?
[/quote]
i think that was a dumb comment he was just looking for a bit of advice this is all round a friendly forum so dont ruin it and what does it matter what fish he has bred

 

[diademhill]

i think that was a dumb comment he was just looking for a bit of advice this is all round a friendly forum so dont ruin it and what does it matter what fish he has bred

Very relevent.
These fish are facing extinction in the wild and need quite specialised treatment to successfully breed them - on a par with breeding Discus IME although the return is much slower as it takes months/years for the babies to be saleble size IME.
They need specialist care and normally the experience of breeding commoner/ easier species is beneficial.
Not a fish for a beginner or a newcomer to breeding and someone with experience will know how to clone tanks.
I had a breeding group of these & raised several batches of fry - I passed then to another experienced breeder pending a house move but I won't bother with them again as IMO they are beautiful but boring. I much prefer the activety level of some of the other Hypancistrus species.

 

[gagaliya]

fastest way to cycle a tank is using unspoiled biospira. Tank will be cycled within 24 hours with no stress to the fish.

 

[SamUK]

fastest way to cycle a tank is using unspoiled biospira. Tank will be cycled within 24 hours with no stress to the fish.

well cloning with an established filter takes about 2 hours so id say second fastest




to the original poster - jus float the established filter pad in the new tank. even that will help i think.

 

[gagaliya]

fastest way to cycle a tank is using unspoiled biospira. Tank will be cycled within 24 hours with no stress to the fish.

well cloning with an established filter takes about 2 hours so id say second fastest




to the original poster - jus float the established filter pad in the new tank. even that will help i think.

hehe well yeah, if you can just move the filter over then by all means. Will save some money too...biospira is expensive.

 

[fI$H_FaCe]

i also used biospira in my 90 gal and it worked flawlessly....i would 100% recomend it...

 

[Trance2006]

I still find biospira to be rubbish material.