Tank cycling advice please ..

[Zincubus]

What's the deal if I start up a tank from fresh BUT use a ready matured Fluval 2 filter ( from an existing tank ) in it from day one ??

Presumably this should cut down on the waiting time dramatically !?

I'm planning to hopefully do that that tomorrow and have the water tested on Monday or Tuesday ....... or is that being too optimistic ??

Plus I'll add a bucket of mature water from the existing tank ...

[Elizabeth94]

Re: Tank cycling advice please ..

I have cycled many tanks freshwater and salt. The filter will help you cycle your tank faster, however I have found the best way to ensure a healthy system and have less problems in the future is the long way.

Unless you know that the mature filter you are using is from a healthy tank, I would just start with a clean/new filter. Get a clean/new filter, and cycle it using the "fishes cycle" method (search it in google, I always use ammonia that is unscented but some people use shrimp). It takes longer for the ammonia and nitrates to drop to 0ppm but atleast you will know it is a clean healthy system. During this time it is not necessary to do water changes. I usually never do a water change during cycling until I find that the ammonia and nitrate are 0ppm and I can start adding fish. In that case I do a 50% change and add a couple fish.

Imo, adding mature water from another tank will do nothing for you as the live bacteria you want lives on surfaces. maybe if you got some gravel from another tank that would work. Good luck!

[Zincubus]

Re: Tank cycling advice please ..

I have cycled many tanks freshwater and salt. The filter will help you cycle your tank faster, however I have found the best way to ensure a healthy system and have less problems in the future is the long way.

Unless you know that the mature filter you are using is from a healthy tank, I would just start with a clean/new filter. Get a clean/new filter, and cycle it using the "fishes cycle" method (search it in google, I always use ammonia that is unscented but some people use shrimp). It takes longer for the ammonia and nitrates to drop to 0ppm but atleast you will know it is a clean healthy system. During this time it is not necessary to do water changes. I usually never do a water change during cycling until I find that the ammonia and nitrate are 0ppm and I can start adding fish. In that case I do a 50% change and add a couple fish.

Imo, adding mature water from another tank will do nothing for you as the live bacteria you want lives on surfaces. maybe if you got some gravel from another tank that would work. Good luck!

Thanks

I'm planning to fill the new tank and add some water treatment called AquaSafe then add quite a bit of gravel from the existing mature tank and use one of the two current Fluval filters in the new tank as a well .....

Any ideas how long I'd have to wait before adding a couple of fish ??

[Zincubus]

Re: Tank cycling advice please ..

Separate issue .. Maybe physics based ?
I was considering putting the tank on two pieces of aluminium lay down under both sides ( front to back ) - to spread the load of 64Kg .. Could this cause a problem with pressure in the middle of the tank ?? I could put another small piece right in the centre of the tank to maybe help with that possibility