Best way to cycle a new tank?

Hi again

I know having filter material from an established tank will speed up this process. My 2nd 3ft tank has been cycling since June, so it's basically two months so far. It has a submersible filter (800L/hr) ,Ammonia levels are still fairly high, about 0.03mg/l and Ph is 6.5. It will probably sort itself out soon (im guesing). What is the best way to cycle a tank? There are so many contrasting opinions out there so i would like to hear from you experienced aquarists.

Please help...........

 

I usually just go buy about 12 zebra danios and leave them in for a month. Job done

 

I have four zebra danios in there. Is that too few?

 

Besides moving filter media across, you could also move some gravel from the old tank over as well. This will have a large amount of the required bacteria on it already, and in a sense will help 'seed' the tank with the right bacteria. It will help shorten the cycle too.

You have the option of buying certain cycling products, like the locally produced Organic Aqua. It requires you to throw the provided chemicals into the tank, which apparently reduces the amount of time it takes for the tank to cycle. I believe that Tetra makes a similar product.

Adding fish to the tank is something that not everyone agrees with, because the fish will be exposed to both high levels of ammonia and high levels of nitrites, as well as nitrates. This can lead to the death of the fish, unless you're using extremely hardy species, such as zebra danios that have already been mentioned.

Alternatively, you can do a fishless cycle. This involves a similar process to a cycle with fish (it takes the same time, and follows the nitrogen cycle) but removes fish from the equation. In order to get the nitrogen into the tank, you'll do one of two things: add small amounts of fish food to the tank and allowing it to break down, or adding pure ammonia to the tank; both of these will act as artificial fish poop. The cycle can start from there.

 

Thanx for the Advice SalmonAfrica.

I have done fishless and fish added cycles on the tanks I have cycled, seems to take the same time as you mentioned. I've also added cycling products, cant remember the brand at the moment though. I've read that it takes a maximum of 6 weeks for a tank to be fully cycled. My frustration is that my tanks seem to take a bit longer than that even though im following all the required instructions to ensure the cycle.

Anyway, it's probably just one of those things. I guess patience is the answer:bigsmile:

 

Well, the time a tank takes to cycle probably has to do with a lot of factors that we know nothing about. Temperature, pH and oxygen levels probably play a vital role in the cycle of the tank.

In theory, yes, a tank should be fully cycled in 6 weeks. However, once a tank has been cycling for at least 3 weeks, it is normally safe for you to add some of the hardier stuff. I'd rather wait for the end of the full 6 week period before adding more sensitive/more expensive fish.

As with everything else in fishkeeping

 

It's been almost 8 weeks and im itching to introduce a few more fish, but as long as there is a trace of ammonia i will resist.

 

It sounds a bit strange to have ammonia levels in a tank that is 8 weeks old. To me 0.03mg/l doesn't sound to high, but then again, my readings are done in PPM. Can you tell us what the reading is relative to... i.e where is it on the scale?

I've never read up or used this product before, so maybe some other members could advise: Would adding Zeolite to this filter not assist?

Also, what is inside the filter... the type of filter material will also play a role in the bacteria colonizing it.

Regards
Ashley

 

At that stage (ie: 8 weeks), there should be no ammonia in the tank, unless the reading was taken within a relatively short time after a feeding. Something odd is going on...

Zeolite does remove ammonia from the water, yes, but it doesn't solve the problem. There is something that is preventing the ammonia from being broken down into nitrites, which is something I've personally never heard of before.

 

I use the Sera ammonia liquid test. (Tried to attach pictures ) The colour of the tested water is lighter than the colour at the 0.05mg/l test kit colour match. The comes with a graph to relate the toxicity levels to the ph. My ph is 6.5 and the graph/ table they give only starts at a ph of 7, so my 0.03mg/l reading is a calculated guess.

I have a submersible filter, the filter media is a balck sponge (tried to attach picture of a similar pump below)

I will taking a water sample to my LPS the weekend to get it checked by them aswell. Just in case!

 

If you only running a sponge in that filter... then we may have sourced part of the problem. I would highly recommend you to get some ceramic rings into that filter. The sponge is mainly for mechanical filtration, i.e removing floating debris, and ceramic rings will provide the biological filtration. I.e the place where the bacteria colonise. It's the bacteria you want in the filter as this is what converts ammonia.

Give that a try and see in a weeks time the reading.

 

Thanx Zoom

I havent used ceramic rings yet, I should be able to get it at my LPS?
I'll get it asap and give it a try.

 

Yes, you should easily find them at the LPS. If possible, try get some seeded ceramic rings from a mate?

 

Got the ceramic rings now just to be patient!

 

Cool beans.

It should settle in a few days... but it could take up to 3 to 6 weeks.