How should I get the benficial bacteria to begin to grow in my tank before I add my biggest fish?

Question

I have a 55 gallon tank that has been cycling for 2 days and I want to put my blue channel catfish in there. The problem is that the tank has none of the bacteria necessary to break down ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. If I put my catfish in there now, he might overload the system with too much ammonia, and no way to get rid of it. He's already quite sick, and I don't want to weaken him further by exposing him to higher levels of poisons than he already has in his tank.

Would it make sense to basically empty the contents of a 3 gallon tank into the big tank so the bacteria can dilute into it and multiply. I also have a zebra danio that could provide a small portion of ammonia.

Answer 1

You could 'seed' the tank with beneficial bacteria by transferring bio-media, substrate, decorations, etc from a healthy established tank into the new tank. The more fish the established tank supports, the better this technique will work. If your catfish in currently in an established tank, just run the filter (with the old filter pads) on the new tank.

Alternatively, if you can find it, try Marineland's refrigerated live bacteria (BIO-SPIRA). It will greatly accelerate the cycling process.

In both instances the catfish will have to be in the tank to provide the ammonia which will keep the cycle running.

You could also try fishless cycling using pure ammonia (do a search on 'fishless cycling' for the procedures).

Answer 2

Personally, I would use 'Cycle'. It is basically ammonia in a bottle, with some of the beneficial bacteria. You can add as much as you want, once per week for two weeks. This will build up your bacteria culture, completing the cycle, without exposing your fish to any ammonia nitrite or nitrate.

Bio spira is good to, but you never know if you have enough of a bacteria culture to be sure that there won't be a spike, especially with a fish as large as a channel cat.

If you need something ASAP, I would go with the Spira, if you can wait a couple of weeks, I would use the Cycle.

Answer 3

The easiest way is to seed the tank with gravel from an established tank.

I know you are having problems with your cat, and I would suggest that you take 1/2 of the gravel from the tank he's in now, and everything from the 3 gallon and put it into the 55 gallon tank.

If you don't want to have that gravel in the 55 (due to color, etc.) you can simply put it all into a women's nylon and drop that into the tank.

The more gravel from established tanks you can get the fast you will be able to cycle the tank.

You can also look at a product called bio-spira from Marineland: http://www.fishstoretn.com sells it.

Talk to Bernie there, he knows the stuff inside and out.

Answer 4

Adding seasoned substrates and filter media from your smaller aquarium would definitely help.

Zeolite (or a product called Ammo Carb) added to your filter will also absorb ammonia (this is a short term solution).

Prime is an excellent product that de-toxifes ammonia and nitrite (it does not remove ammonia, only changes the toxic NH4 to less toxic NH3). I would suggest using this product if you are in a hurry too.

As far as cycling products, Bio Spira is the only one I would recommend for your situation. Personally when time allows I prefer the media exchange method, or the pure ammonia method.

Also consider a larger aquarium for your pet when you can afford it, the channel cat is really a pond fish.

For more about the Nitrogen cycle, including cycling methods, please see this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

Answer 5

I would go ahead and move him into the 55.
Put your gravel, decorations and filter from the small tank in the 55.
I agree. Media or gravel from an established tank or Biospira is your best bet for getting your biofilter up to speed quickly. In the meantime, get an ammonia alert card and some Prime or Amquel (if your pH is above 7.5--Amquel can crash your pH if you).

Here's a good article on what happens during the first month in a new tank and how to keep the water from getting toxic.
http://thegab.org/Articles/WaterQualityCycling.html

Answer 6

The only thing you can add to instantly cycle your tank is bio-spira. Adding stuff from your other tank tank will help. You could put the gravel in a sock and stick it in your filter to help start the cycle.

btw I hope you have a very large pond for that catfish. You do know they can grow in excess of 60 pounds right?

Answer 7

Do you have access to an established (healthy) tank? The gravel and filter cartridge would already have an active colony of benefical bacteria, and you can use them in your new tank for a faster cycling process.

If you don't, then I'm sorry to say you will have to wait the 6 weeks or so for the tank to cycle normally.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Nutrafin cycle and get a bio filter.

Answer 9

In the pet store they have drops to bring the bacteria levels up, try it

Answer 10

Sorry i have no idea but maybe ask an expert or look it up ... somewhere....