setting up new tank - help? cycling?

tangerineCow · 08-28-2010, 11:48 AM

I'm getting a 55 gallon used setup from a friend. It hasn't been used since she was a child and I haven't seen it yet, so I'm not sure what I'll have to work with immediately.

I would like to cycle this new tank AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. I don't really have room to have my two current goldie tanks and this one running for a month. New tank will be bare bottom, but I'm going to temporarily add a shallow large dish of gravel from the old tank and filter media from all four of my tanks (all cycled freshwater) to get it going. Any other ideas? Should I wait 48 hours and then add 1-2 of my fish and do frequent water changes or should I go the ammonia route? If I add ammonia how much?

Thanks for your help! Also, I'll be potting my plants and adding them at some point, but any decorating ideas are welcome! (I prefer to ere on the natural side)

Brittrugger · 08-28-2010, 03:57 PM

How large are your goldies? I think with adding the gravel and filter media from your tanks you would be ok to add a couple of your fish to get things going.

NursePlaty · 08-28-2010, 04:05 PM

If you want the fastest way, adding ammonia would be the best way. Using fish will keep you from getting the ammonia high enough for fast bacterial production. You would need to do water changes to keep the toxins at a therapeutic level to prevent gill damage to the fish. I believe the limit to ammonia with fish is 0.50ppm or 1ppm. If you add ammonia, bring it up to 5ppm or 6ppm. Theres ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits in local fish stores to measure.

susankat · 08-28-2010, 04:14 PM

If you add the gravel and run the old filters on the new tank along with the new filter, you shouldn't have much of a mini cycle, even with goldies. Just keep an eye on it and do water changes a little more often for awhile.

tangerineCow · 08-29-2010, 12:19 AM

Thank you all for your advice! I have one small fantail and two small-medium sized ryukins, so I think I'll just try adding the fish and all of the filter material and do extra water changes. Was actually sort of what I was hoping to hear.

I have another question about an oranda I have (not going into the new tank with the other 3 for now), but I think I should post it in a new thread. Thanks again!!

08-28-2010, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
tangerineCow Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	setting up new tank - help? cycling? I'm getting a 55 gallon used setup from a friend. It hasn't been used since she was a child and I haven't seen it yet, so I'm not sure what I'll have to work with immediately. I would like to cycle this new tank AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. I don't really have room to have my two current goldie tanks and this one running for a month. New tank will be bare bottom, but I'm going to temporarily add a shallow large dish of gravel from the old tank and filter media from all four of my tanks (all cycled freshwater) to get it going. Any other ideas? Should I wait 48 hours and then add 1-2 of my fish and do frequent water changes or should I go the ammonia route? If I add ammonia how much? Thanks for your help! Also, I'll be potting my plants and adding them at some point, but any decorating ideas are welcome! (I prefer to ere on the natural side)

08-28-2010, 03:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brittrugger Brittrugger's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 53 Name: Corey Britt Location: PEI, Canada My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 5 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: setting up new tank - help? cycling? How large are your goldies? I think with adding the gravel and filter media from your tanks you would be ok to add a couple of your fish to get things going.

08-28-2010, 04:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: setting up new tank - help? cycling? If you want the fastest way, adding ammonia would be the best way. Using fish will keep you from getting the ammonia high enough for fast bacterial production. You would need to do water changes to keep the toxins at a therapeutic level to prevent gill damage to the fish. I believe the limit to ammonia with fish is 0.50ppm or 1ppm. If you add ammonia, bring it up to 5ppm or 6ppm. Theres ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits in local fish stores to measure. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

08-28-2010, 04:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: setting up new tank - help? cycling? If you add the gravel and run the old filters on the new tank along with the new filter, you shouldn't have much of a mini cycle, even with goldies. Just keep an eye on it and do water changes a little more often for awhile. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

08-29-2010, 12:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
tangerineCow Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: setting up new tank - help? cycling? Thank you all for your advice! I have one small fantail and two small-medium sized ryukins, so I think I'll just try adding the fish and all of the filter material and do extra water changes. Was actually sort of what I was hoping to hear. I have another question about an oranda I have (not going into the new tank with the other 3 for now), but I think I should post it in a new thread. Thanks again!!

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