Aquarium Cycling - Procedure?

Aquarium Cycling - Procedure?

Okay FishLore,

I have finally cleared up, of all the fish I mentioned in my previous related thread, 30 gallon - Stocking Questions, listed from the link -

I have mentioned several things in that thread, which I recommend you read if you were not subscribed to it before this.

I previously had in this tank, a pair of Opaline Gouramis, a Chinese Algae Eater, and a pair of Albino Cory. I just rehomed the gouramis, and the algae eater due to aggression, and territorial purposes. They are good hands, and now we can begin to resort to another aspect of the tank.

Ourselves, using a gravel substrate that won’t be forever supporting of live plants, we cannot do the nicely planted tank we wanted. Instead, we’ve found some amazing artificial decor, that are based off of real living plants.

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What I don’t know how to go about with, is. Cycling the tank, and how to begin, and how to end. How can I start off my cycle? The water is already in the tank, but I probably have to preform a water change to get rid of some buildup of old food under the substrate.

How can I begin my cycle? I know I need a master test kit, which I probably will get soon. Do I need to add anything to begin the process of this natural occurrence in tanks? I only have TSS at the moment, don’t think that will do us. But, we plan to plant after the cycle has finished.

When I introduce my new fish to aquarium, I will want to have everything perfectly arranged, and ready of the fish.

My Stock:
10 Rummy Nose Tetras
8 Albino Cory
4 Ramshorn Snails (can’t do them)

Before I knew that I can’t do ramshorn snails, I was planning to get them for our tank. But, there is a major drawback. Ramhshorn Snails are outlawed in Texas, due to being an invasive species, and their way of reproducing, and getting into things has caused them to outlawed here!

If I can’t do them, could I expand my school of rummy noses? Or could I add a different type of fish to the stock? I really would be pleased if I can, but I don’t think I want to add more of the other fish, maybe finding a good extra fish for the tank would be nice.

Right now, there are just a couple of albino cory, but they will be moved to a quarantine temporary tank while cycling. I have it set up, with a HOB filter on it. I will do water changes every other day to keep the water clean.

I need all the experts on this thread to help me out. Some of my favorite forum members will be called out to help on this thread.

I request: TexasDomer BottomDweller greenbonsai

Thanks for helping me, and I hope this can be a big success!

 

Hi,
As for stocking snails and fish aren't really interchangeable but I think you have space for a few more fish even if you added the snails. I think you could add a GBR to that stock. Any particular fish you wanted?

 

No, I really didn't have an idea on a particular fish.

Anything compatible with Rummy Noses, and Albino Cory is what I am accepting to.

 

I think ember tetras, chilI rasboras, a GBR or an angelfish could work (obviously not all of them)

 

Right now, I only have 2 albino cory in the 27g. The tank I have is 27g.

If I choose, Embers. How many?

If I choose, Chilis. How many?

If I choose Angelfish. How many?

If I choose GBR. How many?

 

These numbers are for a 30 gallon with no other fish apart from a school of cories
Embers 15-20
Chilis 15-20
Angelfish 1
GBR 1-2

 

It's roughly 30 gallons.

How about

10 Rummy Nose Tetras
8 Albino Cory
10 Chilis

Too much? Or room for more?

 

Sounds good! You could possibly add a small single non schooling fish to that (maybe an endler?) as a minI centrepiece.

 

Yay! Sounds amazing! We have a place for fish that we go to called, Glass Aquatics. They have the rummy nose. But they can order in any fish you want!

So, just one endler? He won't be lonely?

 

Yay! Sounds amazing! We have a place for fish that we go to called, Glass Aquatics. They have the rummy nose. But they can order in any fish you want!

So, just one endler? He won't be lonely?

He shouldn't be lonely. If you are worried about it you could drop your rummynoses to 8-9 and get 2 endlers

 

I'll think it'll be fine! Thanks for you amazing help!

Although, I need everyone to stay in touch with this thread, because I'm starting cycling tomorrow.

Is it ok to start my cycle, before we have a test kit. We're going to order one.

 

No problem!

Yeah you can start to cycle it but it will be easier once you have the test kit.

 

Yes, I knew it's always easier once you have the kit. But I'll begin tomorrow.

Have you seen the temporary cory tank? If not, here it is!

I'll be changing water often, and making sure the levels are good. So far, they're all normal. Nitrate: 20 Nitrite: 0

This is a 15 gallon tub.

 

Update

Since we setup the tank on the 19th, I haven't cleaned it but just 25 percent since the 23rd.

I am planning to clean it around 45 percent or so. Then I am transferring the corys to the tub for the days while we cycle.

 

Ok, good plan. I would add a couple of fake plants to the cory tank so it is less bare for them and they are less stressed. Keep us updated.

 

Update 2

Starting the cycle today, but they water doesn't look good for the main tank.

It's got remnants of those shrimp pellets that I feed them, floating all over the tank... Can I still begin the cycle?
I am going to do a small water change first.

 

Yeah you can begin the cycle. The shrimp pellets will help as they will create ammonia.

 

Okay! How exactly, do I begin?

 

You probably already have begun.
I recommend adding a bottled bacteria to speed up the process. I used tetra safe start. Do you have any other tanks you could take some cycled media from?

 

No, this is my only tank that has media.

The canister filter came last saturday, and it's running now. It had BIO Balls, and Carbon Pouches.

How much TSS do I need to use in the tank?

 

It says on the bottle. However you can't overdose on TSS so using more than you need isn't harmful.

 

Just checked my bottle of TSS, it says to use 5ml of TSS for every 6 litres of aquarium water

 

Okay!

I will add the amount needed then, I'll do it in 20 mins.

 

So, if my tank is 27 gallons, I'd have to add 135 ml of it into the tank.

 

I'm going to add 5 of these, filled all the way up. Doing it right now

 

UPDATE 3

The Corys did good for the first night in the temporary tank, except for one thing...

It's mysteriously getting quite cold where I live all of a sudden, heavy winds and cold snappy weather.

To keep the water warm (because I have no spare heater) durning the day, and keep it normal. I floated a sealed plastic bag on the surface, which allows conduction to transfer the heat from inside the bag, to the water.

My only fear yesterday, was letting them go overnight, I left the light dimmed very low for them all night, to pose as natural light. The water dropped, to what I'm sure as 70F

I woke up, and reinforced their heat bag, and they were just fine in there, just with cold water...

Any idea on how to keep the water warmer durning the night?

 

Do you have a heater in the tank you are cycling?

 

No, but the water always remains over 74F

We are ordering a better one, and it should come soon.