cycling 75 gallon

I've been checking the forums, but I don't see where my specific thought on cycling a 75 gallon tank has been addressed.

I have a 30 gallon tank that has been cycled successfully. I don't think I can use the filter from the 30 gallon to help cycle since the 75 gallon has a canister filter. I took about a softball size of gravel out of it's tank to put into the new 75 gallon, but I was curious if I could use some of the water out of there to help the nitrates along. Also, I was planning on using my 2 Dalmatian mollies to help cycle. Are 2 fish enough to cycle the 75g?

Thanks!
Traci

 

I've been checking the forums, but I don't see where my specific thought on cycling a 75 gallon tank has been addressed.

I have a 30 gallon tank that has been cycled successfully. I don't think I can use the filter from the 30 gallon to help cycle since the 75 gallon has a canister filter. I took about a softball size of gravel out of it's tank to put into the new 75 gallon, but I was curious if I could use some of the water out of there to help the nitrates along. Also, I was planning on using my 2 Dalmatian mollies to help cycle. Are 2 fish enough to cycle the 75g?

Thanks!
Traci

 

Welcome to Fishlore, if you look in the freshwater beginner section there is a sub-forum called aquarium nitrogen cycle I believe.

anywoo

Welcome to fishlore

You can take SOME of your filter media from your 30 gallon and put it in your cannister to jump start the cycle. I would advise against putting in fish as it's stressful to the fish. The cycle won't take that long and soon you will be under way. As for the water, it holds very little anything in it so there's no need to add that, the gravel helps, you can put some gravel in a panty or whatever girls wear on there legs, nylon sock or something, it's on a post here and stick it in your tank as the water will pass through it.

Hope all goes well

 

Thanks! I got the pantyhose idea from the forums. Is a softball size ball enough, or should I add more? I was just curious to see if the water from the established tank would help or not. Do you think 2 mollies will create enough ammonia to help cycle the tank?

 

You can add two if you want, patience is the key. No water will not help much at all. No the cycle would be stressful to the fish and you risk the chance of losing them and it's best to go fishless, you won't speed up the cycle that much.

 

I figured as much, patience hasn't ever been my strong pont! Will 2 fish be enough to help cycle in a few weeks for a 75g?

 

In a few weeks it will cycle itself with the added gravel. Have you added some filter media from you 30 to your 75 as it will help MORE than fish. No fish will not help that much and is not good for them, please do not add them as it is stressful to them with the ammonia and nitrites on the rise since that is what happens when it cycles. I know how it feels to have an empty tank, I'v had empty tank for almost 2 months but it feels good knowing your fish are safe when putting them in there from harmful chemicals.

 

No, I haven't put the old filter in the new tank yet. It's my first time with a canister filter, so I'm not sure where I could put the additional media. I bought the Rena XP3, and have the Filstar Bio Chem Stars in the middle portion. Should I double up the top portion where I put the carbon in with the old filter?

Thanks again,
Traci

 

I'm assuming your using a filter insert from your old tank, rip some of the fluffly stuff off and stick it wherever you can fit it in one of your baskets in your cannister, probably sponge or coarse media spot.

 

Thanks! I'll give that a whirl and see how it goes.

 

I am just about to cycle a 75 gallon tank too What I will personally do is I will cycle the tank using fish food. I will be dropping fish flakes into the tank every day, until ammonia = 0 and nitrite = 0. Once that happens, I will start stocking my tank very slowly. I will start with a few tiny Zebra Danios. In case ammonia and/or nitrite spikes up after I've added the first batch of fish, I'll be doing about 50% water changes every day until ammonia = 0 and nitrite = 0. Then, I'll continue stocking (also very slowly), until I have all the fish I want.

The reason I chose Zebra Danios as first fish is that they're the hardiest of all fish I want, so in case I have an ammonia or nitrite spike after I've added the Zebra Danios into my tank, they have greater chances of surviving.

 

Glad to help, patience is the key.

 

I think zebra danios are best for cycling a tank. they are very hardy fish. well, it's better to cycle a tank without fish.

 

You can use the filter from the 30 gallon to help cycle the 75 gallon,it does'nt matter if the 75 has a canister. I did it with my 55 and 120 gallon tanks without a problem. It took about 16-18 days to cycle,just cab't remember exactly.

What happened was this:

I started the cycling process(120 gaallon tank) useing pure ammonia with 1 canister,3 days later I added another canister, and 2 days after that I added 1 of my emperor 400 hang on backs from my 55 gallon. It sped the cycling process up,no doubts about it.

After about a month I added the emperor 400 back on my 55 gallon, Now I had 2 of the emperor 400's on my 55 gallon to start with and now there back together.

BTW I dod not use any flake food at all,just pure ammonia.


HTH

John

 

Ewolfe, I have no idea where to get pure ammonia. Besides, I have my 75 gallon tank full of plants. The plants are supposed to help cycle faster as they consume ammonia and nitrite (and nitrate to a lesser extent). The substrate that I have (Eco-Complete) is also supposedly going to help speed up the cycle. I guess I'll see. But I know I am not adding any fish to my tank until my ammonia and nitrite both = 0. Once they do, I'll start stocking very slowly. Yes, I think I'll take a piece of filter sponge as well, or a handful of gravel, from my 30 gal. established tank.

 

Ewolfe, I have no idea where to get pure ammonia. Besides, I have my 75 gallon tank full of plants. The plants are supposed to help cycle faster as they consume ammonia and nitrite (and nitrate to a lesser extent). The substrate that I have (Eco-Complete) is also supposedly going to help speed up the cycle. I guess I'll see. But I know I am not adding any fish to my tank until my ammonia and nitrite both = 0. Once they do, I'll start stocking very slowly. Yes, I think I'll take a piece of filter sponge as well, or a handful of gravel, from my 30 gal. established tank.

Isabella,

Do you still need any pure ammonia. I'd be able to mail you some as I have quite a bit left. Just let me know..

John

 

Have you looked into Kordon's Zymbac Freshwater Product? BioSpira would run a bit for a 75 gallon and that might be a less expensive but slower aid.

 

Isabella,

Do you still need any pure ammonia. I'd be able to mail you some as I have quite a bit left. Just let me know..

John

Just a note. I wouldn't try to mail any chemical anywhere, especially ammonia. It's on the watch list for terrorist actions, so mailing it even under good intentions just might get you into a little bit of trouble. Why... I don't know... especially when you can pick up a bottle at most grocery stores in the cleaning isle.

 

LOL.. yea, I don't get that one. Why would a terrorist mail something you can get so commonly? A lot of these crazy anti-terrorist things they have now seem pointless.

 

I have a related question-
I am cycling a tank and the ammonia is really high still. Could I take some of that water to start the cycle in yet another new tank?

Good luck with your tank cycling, it seems to take forever!

--R

 

good question.. it might help some, but i'm not sure how big of an effect it would have since the ammonia would be diluted in the other new tank and it might slow down the 1st tank cycling.

 

Considering we are talking parts per million (ppm) taking water that had say 2ppm of ammonia in it and putting it into a tank with 0 ammonia would dilute it to the point of non-existence. Though check your tap water for ammonia right out of the pipes. You might be surprised to see 1.0ppm or so out of the tap due to having chloramines in your water. Now that on the other hand should work nicely to cycle your tank... at least I plan to test it out next time I cycle a tank .

 

Oh@ You are totally right! My tap water has 1.0 or higher ammonia to start with. I wonder if that alone would be enough ammonia!

--R

 

My tank never read higher then 0.5 ammonia throughout the entire ammonia part of my cycle (even though my tap has 1.0ppm out of the sink). So my guess is that just tap water alone only treating for the chlorine (without fish) would work fine. Of course this would require you to constantly add more fresh water to keep the ammonia levels up high enough throughout the entire cycle, so with all of those water changes anyway, you might as well cycle with fish ;D

 

My tank never read higher then 0.5 ammonia throughout the entire ammonia part of my cycle (even though my tap has 1.0ppm out of the sink). So my guess is that just tap water alone only treating for the chlorine (without fish) would work fine. Of course this would require you to constantly add more fresh water to keep the ammonia levels up high enough throughout the entire cycle, so with all of those water changes anyway, you might as well cycle with fish ;D

Wow lucky on that! My ammonia is above the charts and has been there despite a wide range of efforts. I finally removed all but 2 fish and am doing plenty of water changes and just going to wait it out.