lee250

I was reading other posts about using, say gravel from an already cycled tank. My question is how much gravel? Like a hand full, or the more you use the faster it will go? And what about putting plants in to? Will the cycling hurt the plants? Also what is a good temp to keep it at? I have an adjustable 300 watt heater that I think will go up to about 86. This is for a 55 gallon tank.

Lucy

The more gravel, the more bacteria you would transfer. I've never cycled a tank that size, I'm sure others will be along with a more accurate answer.
Cycling won't hurt the plants.
I know a higher temp will help the cycle, but since you have fish, I don't know what the highest temp they can live in for as long as it takes to cycle.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Good luck.

lee250

I am not going to put the fish in until after the tank has cycled.

clinton1621

The more gravel you use the faster it will go.... however extremely dirty gravel will pollute the new tank faster, so do a light gravel vac first before you move it.

Plants can survive the cycle.... but ammonia will cause some plants to wilt or turn yellow, also they will need lights and nutrients just like usual even without fish in the tank, so keep that in mind.

Higher temps arent going to make a huge difference... and you will need to have the temp between 76 to 78 for most fish anyway, so I would set it at where you want it to be when the fish are in there... that way you dont have to mess with lowering it later.

Oh and if you are planning on using gravel from your other tank, it isnt cycled either from your ammonia readings, so it will not help the 55g

lee250

It is day 3 and the ammonia is up to about 3.0. I used API Stress Zyme, biological filtration booster, because that was all I could get aond here and the pet store people said it would work and I read the bottle and it said to use on day 1 then day 7 then day 14 on new tanks.

capekate

Hello Lee and welcome to fishlore..
I also have a 55g tank that I cycled using the fishless method. It took about 3.5 weeks for it to cycle. You can use an old stocking to hold say a cup of established gravel from a cycled tank. Tie it off and let it sit in your 55 for the duration of the cycle. Can you find some Tetra Safe Start where you are? That and the Bio Spira are the only ones that truly do as they say, they will cycle your tank! If not using some pure ammonia or fish food will help it along.
You really need a good water tester to be able to know where you are in the cycle. Remember that dip stick water testers are known to be unreliable and a good master test kit is the way to go. As far as plants, if you have the standard lights that came with the tank, you should look for low light plants only.
Your 300w heater should be fine, and for most fish you can keep it set at 78*. Just watch the water temp during our winter months, you may have to adjust it at some point. You can attach your heater near the filter outflow or over a bubble wand to help disperse the heat to other parts of the tank.
Best of luck with your tank! What are you planning to stock it with?