Im gonna get a 20 gallon. What gonna be the quickest way to cycle this without biospira? Im gonna put my old filter in there, and probably some gravel. Then what? How long is this gonna take?
2007-01-20 12:45:33 · 6 answers · asked by Skittles 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
I will be adding my existing swordtials when the cycle is done
2007-01-20 12:52:11 · update #1
the filter media is from a fully cycled tank thats running right now
2007-01-20 13:00:26 · update #2
Since most of the beneficial bacteria live in the filter and on the gravel moving that over is also moving the cycle over. As long as you don't put in more fish then what was is the smaller tank then it should be fine, you can check the params just to make sure though.
2007-01-21 02:11:18 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't clean the filter too heavily before you move it. Feed sparingly for a couple of weeks and you shouldn't go through any sort of new tank syndrome. That bio-crap that you buy that's expensive is truely a waste of money! Not that it doesn't work but its just a bottle of filter sludge that you wash down the sink when you clean your filter!! Not worth $25. I'll sell you mine for $20! Ha ha. No really you are on the right path. Just check your water perameters daily for a while to make sure. You should be ok. Oh yeah add fish slowly like 1 at time, and not more than 1 a week.
2007-01-23 15:25:11 · answer #2 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your starting your tank up again from scratch, don't start it with feeders or any type of goldfish. They produce way too much nitrogen. Get your filter started, get your temperature right and add dechlorinator. Then figure out what kind of fish you want. You can start with just one fish, like a tetra or something small like that. Then see how he does. After a week to ten days, add another fish and observe how it goes. Stock your tank slowly, adding a fish at a time. This is the trick to "cycling" your tank. You need to give the biofilter a chance to build up good nitrogen eating bacteria without overwhelming it, which causes your fish to die of poisoning. Remember, it's important to obey the rule of an inch of fish per gallon. However, not all fish are the same. An inch of Oscar is way bigger than an inch of neon tetra, so use your judgement. Most people fail because they overstock their tanks. Don't overfeed your fish, and do water changes often by replacing one quarter of the water with fresh water every week. Trust me, if you follow these rules you will be successful and enjoy your aquarium for many years to come. Good luck to you.
2007-01-20 12:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by true blue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With filter media and gravel from a cycled tank, it should only take about 1-2 weeks.
Make sure you use a source of ammonia. Since you already have gravel and filter media, you can safely add your first fish or two. Monitor parameters closely and do water changes when ammonia and/or nitrite get above .25 ppm. Once things level out, you can add another 1-2 fish. http://freshwater.fanatics.googlepages.com/cyclinganaquarium
2007-01-20 13:21:00 · answer #4 · answered by fish guy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
puting in your old filter and old gravel will help speed it up only if it is right out of your old tank. I have waited untill my old tank needed cleaning and then put half the old water into the new tank and then freash water in the old tank, the tank will start to cycle in a few days, but it can take up to 4 weeks before the baktera is fully grown
2007-01-20 12:56:36 · answer #5 · answered by y171bg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it will take about 20 min.
2007-01-20 13:03:40 · answer #6 · answered by upforitupforitupforitupforitru 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋