Of Cycling and Filter Media

Well, it's amazing the things you find when moving out of the college dorms. Clothes, yes; a mirrior, maybe; but a fish tank?? Lo and behold, as I was moving out, someone was getting rid of their 15 gal tank, practically brand new! I couldn't help myself; I grabbed it. It came with the tank iteslf and the gravel, no filter or anything, but that was fine. I cleaned it out, and now it's cycling in the living room.

Since I haven't done this in over a year (and was new to it when I first tried), I have a few questions.

It's been cycling for a week now, and the only fish in it is a small piece of raw salmon to add ammonia for me. My friends joke that it'll become my sushI tank; personally I'd rather have the pretty, happy fish that inhabit my other tanks.

The readings are:

Ammonia: 1.0 ppm
Nitrite: 2.0 ppm
Nitrate: 5.0 ppm
Water Temp: 85*

Now for the questions:

Should I take the salmon out, and if so, when? Won't it just keep adding ammonia constantly?

At what point should I do a water change? I don't want to disrupt the progress I've had, but I know a water change is necessary.

I have a 10 gal tank and a 5.5 gal tank, both established. Can I take the filters out and rinse them in the cycling tank, then replace them? Would this harm the already cycled tanks? I would just put the filter media into the cycling filter, but they're different sizes and therefore uncompatable. The 10 also has an undergravel filter in addition to a Fluval filter, if that makes a difference.

I could also take water out of the cycled tanks and put it into the cycling tank, if that would help. I would just transfer gravel, but I have a snail problem, and don't want to introduce the little rats into the new tank. The snails will be taken care of by loaches after the current inhabitants are moved into the larger tank, but until then I have to leave the gravel.

And of course, the required question: any idea how the cycle is progressing? The ammonia has gone down since earlier in the week (2ppm). Probably won't be able to tell, but I had to ask

Thanks for your help! If you have any more suggestions, I'm always open to them.

~Kelly

 

As I have never used the raw fish method of cycling, I don't know whether or not you can pull the salmon out. The cycle is coming along well, though.
As far as filter media, I would take the filter media out of the tank with the UGF, cut out a swatch that will fit in the new tank's filter (most filters have extra space in them that many of us keep pieces of bio-media in, to instantly cycle another tank if necessary), and then replace it. Since the UGF is giving that tank a leg up on the bacteria colony, it should be ok to pull the old filter media. Even better if that filter has a bio media that's separate from the mechanical/chemical. You'll want to watch your numbers, just to be sure, but it should be fine.
I would do a water partial water change now, and another immediately before buying new fish (which I think you should be able to do soon, as you are getting nitrate readings)

 

wow! I started cycling my 20 gallon a week ago and have seen no nitrites or nitrates at all, so your really ahead of the game! it seems as if you could take the salmon out, and wait until your readings get to..

Ammonia:0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: around 0-40 ppm

then all you need to do is a partial water change, and check to make sure that lowered the nitrates, and your ready to go!if I'm wrong with any of this, somebody please correct me hope you have good luck with your tank!

ps. make sure u post pics of ur fish for us!

 

Leave the sushI in until you get ammonia and nitrite to 0. Yes, it will continute to add ammonia to the tank, but that is what you want. Your tank will grow more and more bacteria until there are enough to eat the ammonia as fast as it is produced, which is when you will see your readings drop to zero. Once nitrite also drops to zero, remove the salmon, do a 50% water change, and add fish. Be sure you stock your tank fairly soon after removing the salmon and changing the water. Once your ammonia source is out of the tank, the bacteria will begin to die out, and if you wait too long you will need to cycle again.

 

Good job. You don't have to worry about how high the levels are if you don't have anything but sushI in the tank! The higher they go the faster it will cycle. No water change until the ammonia and nitrite are 0. Like stated 50% water change then, and check the levels. I wouldn't put fish in unless the nitrates are around 5, so you may have to do another 50% change. Then have the new arrivals on hand and add them carefully. Don't stock up to fast, allow a few days between additions. Check your levels two or three days after each addition, before adding fish. Make sure the levels are staying in the proper range.

It doesn't do any good to put water in from another tank. Most of the bacteria aren't in the water, but all other media ideas are good.

Good Luck,
Fish in the Frozen North 8)

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Today's readings are:

Ammonia: 0.5-1.0 ppm
Nitrites: 2.0 ppm
Nitrates: 10-20 ppm

I'll leave the sushI in, though it no longer looks very appitizing!

The filter I have in the cycling tank is a Fluval 3X, so it's essentially a plastic case with intake and output, with filter foam inside. I may be able to squish some filter media from my 10 gal in there (the 10 uses a Fluval 1X; much smaller). The filter media is very compressable; would squishing it in there harm the flow or the bacteria, or are the bacteria squishable, like I intuitively think they would be? It makes sense that the water wouldn't have anything in it; it was a suggestions I got from my LFS, so I figured I'd check.

Most of the fish that are going into this tank are on hand already, so once the readings even out, I can gradually introduce them. The fish in my 10 gal are going to be moved up to the 15, and then my betta in the 5.5 gal is going to be moved to the 10. I'll then keep the 5.5 on hand as an emergency hospital tank if need be. Unless MTS grabs me that is (which I hope it doesn't, though it is tempting!).

A few more questions:

Eventually this will become a planted tank. At what point do I add the plants? I know not to add them now because they will slow the process down. Do I add them before the fish? After? At the same time?

The fish that will be going into this tank to begin with (though not all at once) are: 4 corries (three adults, one "baby"), 2 ottos, 5 cardinal tetras, and 1 female betta. What order should they go in? I was thinking the corries first because they are very hardy, then maybe the cardinals? I know the cardinals and the ottos are more delicate, so I figured that not putting them in first would give the tank a little time to break in with the new fish. I was also thinking the betta last to prevent any territorial issues, but then again she's never had a problem with any of her tank mates (and I don't know that she would even if they were all introduced after her), and bettas are very hardy fish as well. Any advice?

lilsoccakid - I think the secret here (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is the high temperature of the water. I have the heater set at 85*, which allows the bacteria to multiply faster. Maybe try turning up the temp in your 20 gal? Might speed things up, I dunno.

Thanks everyone!

~Kelly

 

Sounds like you are on top of everything. You will probably need a big spoon for the sushI

Good Luck

Fish in the Frozen North 8)

 

If it were me, I would add the plants slowly and around the same time you add fish. This will allow you to discover any problems you have with your setup that could harm plants (I lost about $10 of stock to being burned by light)

 

Thanks again everyone for the advice!

The readings for the last few days are:

Ammonia: 0 <.25 0
Nirtites: 2.0 2.0 2.0
Nitrates: 10 20 40

The Nitrates are definitely going up, but the Nitrites are holding steady. Any insights?

Also, any advice on what order I should add the fish in? I'm going to slowly add the plants as suggested by sirdarksol, but am still perplexed about the fishing order.

Though I may not have to worry, seeing as my friends have now decided that instead of sushI in the tank, they're going to add Jaws! This decision happened after seeing the movie on the big screen last night at the local movie theatre. All I have to say is... dun dun.....dun dun.....

~Kelly

 

The Nitrates are definitely going up, but the Nitrites are holding steady. Any insights?

Hold the line...all is progressing as it should. No worries, you will be cycled soon.

 

I have to laugh, I was hoping that it was cycled this weekend so I could go out and buy decor, but murphy's law was working aginst me. Now that it's no longer the weekend (and thus I don't have time), the tank is cycled! Figures

Just want to do a double check: My nitrites have dropped to zero (were at 1.0 yesterday, then tested twice today at zero). My nitrates are at 10, but my ammonia has bumped up from zero to .25ppm. It's been sort of doing that, where one day it'll be .25, then the next few says it's zero, then back to .25 again. Am I still good to call it cycled, do a 50% water change, and slowly add the fish? (I'll remove my last sushI piece of course!)

Thanks!

~Kelly

 

lilsoccakid - I think the secret here (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is the high temperature of the water. I have the heater set at 85*, which allows the bacteria to multiply faster. Maybe try turning up the temp in your 20 gal? Might speed things up, I dunno.

Thanks everyone!

~Kelly

ive been keeping mine around 81*, but I just moved it to 85, thanks for the advice!

 

HI PepsI 216,
I would say you are good to go. :;z Like you said take the sushI out first do a 50 % change then start adding fish, slowly !!!!!

The reason your ammonia went back up could be because an unstable amount of ammonia is being introduced in the tank by that sushi, the bacteria are now there to do each of the chemical changes, just maybe not in the amount necessary to accommodate a large fluctuation. That is the reason to start with just a few fish. Then each addition just a few more, each time checking after a couple of days to see what your tests are, and do water changes if the ammonia or nitrite do spike.

What are the first fish you will put in? Have fun, and good luck.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

What are the first fish you will put in?

Actually, I'm open to suggestions on that. I have corries, cardinals, ottos, and a female betta that can go in there. I was thinking the corries first, as they're very hardy fish. What do you advise?

~Kelly

 

Well, I guess if you are just going to put fish in that you already have, my suggestion would be the 3 corys, and the female betta. I wouldn't break up either the corys or otoes. Both do better if they have a group like that.

Or you could move the 3 corys over for a few days, then go to the LFS and look for some other hardy small fish. I wouldn't put the cardinals or otoes over until the tank has settled for say 6 months or more as they are both kind of tender.......

My favorite fish tend to be hard to find, like dwarf neon rainbows. It is your call. One thing to do first is to research your fish a little, fishlore has a great link down at the bottom of this page, fish profiles, which should help. Let us know what you choose!

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Well, I just fished out the corries right before getting your post. I have to say, it was pretty amusing trying to get them; my betta Artemis, and my two ottos, Quark and Quazar kept swimming intentionally into the net! About the only ones who didn't want to go in the net were the corries. As it is, I have the net resting partially in the tank until I can get a towel, and as I speak, Artemis is swimming into it and checking it out, and Quark has attached himself to the handle. Silly fishies

I suppose that adding Artemis, along with the corries is to large of a load to start the tank off with? ;D

The dwarf neon rainbows sound really cool; unfortunately, I haven't seen anything in my past few visits to the LFS's here (I've been plotting for my tank, what can I say ). I'll definitely keep an eye out though! I'm very partial to the cardinals and neons, as I love to see them school. I also have royal blue gravel in the tank that would really set them off nicely.

I saw some clown plecos the last time I was there, and I may get one to help clean the tank, as they're supposed to stay small. I also like the red-tailed sharks, but I think they may get too large for my tank.

As soon as everything's set up, I'll post some pictures for everyone to see!

~Kelly

 

wow u were right as soon as I turned my temp up to 86-87*, it only took 2 days to go from no nitrite and nitrate to 8ppm nitrite and 30ppm nitrate!

 

Congratulations! Sounds like it'll be cycled soon.

I put my corries in the other night, and they've been romping around the tank, exploring their new home. They're so fun to watch

~Kelly

 

congrats! sounds like a great time watching ur new fish! I can't wait to get my first fish, which will hopefully be some neon tetras!

 

Hey all,

Well, my corries have been happily swimming around their new tank since Monday, and my tank readings have returned to normal (Ammo: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate:5-10ppm). Is it safe to now add another fish?

Also, the pH is rather high and reads 8.0. The tap water is 7.0. Is there any way to safely bring the pH down closer to 7.0? Several water changes?

Thanks!

~Kelly

 

Just read this article: https://www.fishlore.com/Articles/PHArticle.htm which answered some of my pH questions. I put a plant in the tank, which may be what raised it up, so when I add some driftwood later in the game it'll probably decrease.

~Kelly

 

Oh man! My pH is quite high from the tap (8.0!), and my plants are heavily planted to deal with potential nitrate spikes and give the fish loads cover and a relaxing environtment. Caught between a rock and a hard place.