Another cycling question?

Question

I currently have a 20g tank that's been set up for about 2 weeks, give or take. I've got 3 danios and 5 white clouds. My ammonia hasn't spiked yet, and I've got several other fish in a temp. 10g holding tank that I want to add to the 20g as soon as I can (well, as fast as is healthy for the biofilter).

If I were to take out the danios and white clouds and put them in temp. holding tanks as well, and then add ammonia to my 20g and do a fishless cycle, would that help the cycle go faster?

No, my tank is not even close to being overstocked, nor will it be when I add the other fish. :/

Answer 1

the cycling process takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks, which is true for saltwater and freshwater
You will see a spike in your ammonia in about 1-3 weeks
Leave your danios and white clouds where they are, they will help you cycle the tank

The only way to shorten, or even prevent a cycling process altogether, is when you take water, gravel and filter media from an already established tank, other then that your tank has to go through a complete cycling process

As for adding any more fish, i would wait until your ammonia has spiked and gone back down



Hope that helps
Good luck



EB


Feel free to email me for further help

Answer 2

Your only 2 weeks into a cycle that can take up 8 weeks.
if you want to add the other fish to the tank this is what you can do.
add all your fish right now and do small water changes as needed to keep your level in a safe range.
if you put the other fish in after the cycle your ammonia will go up again anyway.
if you already had all the fish in and were asking for help doing small water changes would be the answer.
so give it a try just keep on top of the water and check your levels every day and change water as needed and it will be fine.
But your cycle will take longer to finish but thats not really a problem if your doing water changes to keep it in check.

Answer 3

I would not even consider taking them out. After they have been in the tank for about a week, add several more, A week later do a partial water change and add the remaining fish. I have heard a lot of formulas on how many fish per gallon, etc., but 1 per 2 gallons is a bit extreme.

With proper filtration and surface movement for oxygen, I never hesitate to put 2" per gallon. If all these formulas were accurate, all fish store fish would be dead. Ever noticed how many fish they have in a stock tank? I have done wholesale and retail. With good conditioned tanks, all conditioned naturally and never with any chemicals or additives, 100 zebras in a 20L was standard operating procedures. Or 25 kissing gouramis. Or 20 small Africans. Or 100 small algae eaters. And the list goes on.

People are too hung up on theory and not practicality. A lot of the professional books on raising tropicals were written years before present day filtration was available or even on the drawing board. I know there are a lot of "experts" out there who disagree with me big time, but I just know what has worked successfully for me for over 40 years.

Answer 4

Sorry I have to disagree with greg about the tank taking 8 weeks to cycle. That is for saltwater.
I would have to agree with Dr. kalyfran again.
Dont take any of the fish out, they have adjusted already, add the others slowly, use common sense and just add a few at a time. The one inch rule is a good rule but you have to take inconsideration the size and shape, 10 neon tetras are putting out a lot less waste than one 10 inch oscar.
Just try to have good judgement.

Answer 5

your pushing the holding limit of your 20 gallon as it is 1 fish/2gallons in a rectagular tank less for other shapes. if you have them in seperate tankes and same temp it should be ok to add them straight out.