velmag

We picked up a used 10 gallon tank to put the fry into. Got things set up, and we're running the filter that came with it. It was an Aqua-tech 5-15.

When we first started playing with fish, I picked up a testing kit, but really didn't fiddle with it too much.

I was looking at one of the bottles, and it's called "Cycle".

My other tank is doing just fine, so I don't think I really need it for that one, but I'm wondering if it would help with setting up the new tank.

The fry are a bit too tiny to move them over yet, so that will give this new tank some time to set up.

Anyway, should I use the cycle in the new tank? Is it something to use each week, or just for getting the healthy bacteria started?

agabr123

i don't recommend using products like cycle, stress zyme, etc. basically the money that you'll put into it over the years makes it not worth it. it is one of those products that need to be added every week for the life of the tank, because it contains terrestrial bacteria instead of aquatic bacteria, so it will drown after a short period of time.

marksuttonjr

I also do NOT reccomend using the stuff. I do NOT use ANY CHEMICALS when I do not absolutly have to. If I use tap water I age it a min of 24 hours before adding it to the tank. That will remove the chlorine and eliminate the need for a chlorine remover. Other than that there is nothing special that you need to do to eliminate all need for chemicals.

As for keeping the young out of the fry tank until they get larger. All you do by waiting is eliminate all need for the fry tank in the 1st place. IF you have a fry tank you move the fry as soon as possible after they are born.

The tank will not start to cycle without fish, or at least some "dirty" stuff from a well cycled tank. That means that all you are doing is allowing the new tank to run. It is not getting "set up"

Lucy

Hi Mark, welcome to Fish Lore (If I haven't said it already )
Dechlorinators are necessary to remove chloramines from the tap water.
Most city water supplies also contain chloramine which will not dissipate in 24hrs like chlorine.

Instead of fish, you can also use ammonia (no additives), raw shrimp or fish food as your source of ammonia to cycle a tank. Not everyone has access to an established tank to borrow filter media or substrate needed to cycle a tank.
But, yeah, I agree, don't use the product Cycle.

omnitheforsaken

You should check with the vets on here but I think that if you use some of the gravel from your tank that's already set up, it will give your new tank a jump start as the bacteria needed for cycling grows on the gravel as well. Also if the filter that came with the new tank is used as your tank is, you may have some of the bacteria built up in there on the biological filter which will also help. Some one please correct me if I'm wrong.

Lucy

That's correct.
You can either run the new filter in the established tank for a least 2 weeks or put the new filter media in the established tank for 2 weeks, that'll give the new filter a chance to develop some bacteria.