how do i know if my fishless tank is cycled and ready for new fish?

Question

Hi, i am trying to recycle a tank which previously had aquarium sharls, 2 pagasius, 1 rainbow and a silver bala, which i lost to what i think was white spot, i did treat them for it, but lost them anyway, i removed all the water and rinsed everything in the tank incliding the filter, i added cyramics to the filter and have had it running now for 10 days without fish, how will i know when it is ok to start adding fish, i want to put the same sharks again.

Answer 1

it takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks to fully cylce a tank
the only way you will know, is if you buy yourself test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrAtes

once the nitrites and ammonia are at 0, your tank is cycled

you need to add some kinda ammonia source in order to produce bacteria in your filter, which can be best accomplished by adding fishfood daily
here is a thread for you to read up on
http://fishlesscycling.com/forum/index.php?topic=595.0



Hope that helps
good luck



EB


Edit*
pH is not needed until you get fish for your tank
then it's really important to have it for the acclimatization process
here is an article on how to do it properly
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/acclimating_you_new_fish.html

Answer 2

Get a test kit - ammonium nitrates are the biggest killer of a fully recycled tank - soon as you replace and wash the entire contents, you lose much of the underwater eco-system
If I was spending money on fish.....that water has to be 100%, and introduce 1 fish per fortnight to the tank!

Answer 3

I would suggest a Ph Test as well.

Some good 'canary' fish are Zebra Danios. They're quite hardy and once they go in the cycle starts and other fish are quite happy in their tanks. I have always used these 'canaries' and none have ever died.

But remember you need at least a pair or two to keep their schooling instinct alive for social behavior.

Answer 4

I would do a ph test to check all is good. But I would say it would be ready for fish now. I usually only cycle my tank for a week. I hope this helps. Also make sure you tank is big enough for all those fish adn that your filter can cope with it. I would add like one fish and see how it goes and if all is well after a couple of days then add more. Goodluck

Answer 5

Use potassium permaganate, 2mg should be enough. If the water remain purple, means is clean from the bacteria but when turn browish, means it kill the bacteria and get oxidized.

by the way i sometime i use bleach to clean yr aquarium , it kill 99.99% of all sorts of germs, but make sure you rinse it at least three times.
Alternatively , you can use alcohol to wipe all the surface. let it dry and rise once.i know my answer sound ridicilous but it work.