Starting My 55 gallon Tank

[phoenixkiller]

At last! I now have a project starter, and something to dream about - a 55 gallon tank! Once I get all the accessories for it (Heater, lights, decorations, etc.) I need to be ready to start the cycling process! I have seeded media, decor, and gravel, but I don't know if that will be enough. If it is not, (Like I suspect) I need to know where to buy PURE ammonia. Is there a product on Amazon.com, or somewhere else? Thank you all!

 

[Mikalicious209]

U can buy ammo at just about any hardware chain store.

 

[jlk]

Have you checked to see if theres an Ace hardware or Do It Best hardware store in your area (check store locator)? This is where I would start. You can also check to see if you have any Dollar Tree stores (i believe they carry the blue ribbon stuff) as well. Worse comes to worse, Amazon does sell the Ace Hardware Janitiorial Strength 10% ammonia but the shipping may be a bit outrageous fo a bottle of amm that only costs a couple of bucks in the store.

 

[severum mama]

There is really no reason to fishless cycle a tank that you start with with old filter media. Just add the media, and start with a small fish load at the same time. Monitor water quality and change water as needed. You'll typically cycle within a few days, and in many cases, you won't see ammonia or nitrite at all. You don't have to convert 4 ppm in a day to consider a tank cycled- that's much more ammonia than a small fish load will produce, and really an arbitrary value. Once you're confident that your tank is processing the ammonia produced by your small fish load, stock slowly from there. I've started close to 100 tanks this way and it is by far one of the easiest methods IMO.

 

[phoenixkiller]

There is really no reason to fishless cycle a tank that you start with with old filter media. Just add the media, and start with a small fish load at the same time. Monitor water quality and change water as needed. You'll typically cycle within a few days, and in many cases, you won't see ammonia or nitrite at all. You don't have to convert 4 ppm in a day to consider a tank cycled- that's much more ammonia than a small fish load will produce, and really an arbitrary value. Once you're confident that your tank is processing the ammonia produced by your small fish load, stock slowly from there. I've started close to 100 tanks this way and it is by far one of the easiest methods IMO.

Thank you for your advice! Just to let you know, the seeded filter is for a 10 gallon tank, so it's temporary and tiny, and I don't know if that will affect cycling or not...

 

[severum mama]

Are you upgrading your 10 gallon to the 55 gallon, or adding a second tank? If this is an upgrade, I'd move the fish and the filter over and run the old filter along with your new one for a couple weeks.

 

[phoenixkiller]

No, I will still be using the 10 gallon, but I will temporarily relocate the fish when I use the seeded decorations and filter media.

 

[jlk]

Are the fish in the 10g moving to the 55g? Or are you relocating them elsewhere?

 

[phoenixkiller]

Only the Neon Tetras will be moved from the 10 gallon to the 55 gallon. The other two, baby red wag platies, will be relocated to my cousin's fish tank.

 

[jlk]

Ok! I guess it will be your call on how you would like to do this. You can either fishless cycle & then fully stock or you can move the 10g media/filter to the 55g with the neons & take your time to stock slowly & gradually. Good luck with the new tank & dont hesitate to ask questions!

 

[phoenixkiller]

Ok. I think I will do the seeded filter/media route. I trust it a bit more, and it works faster. Thank you all for your help!

 

[severum mama]

Just be sure to take it slow and you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Don't worry, I am not a risk taker by any means.

 

[phoenixkiller]

How long should the filter be used in the 55 gallon tank?

 

[jlk]

A couple of weeks atleast- longer, the better.

 

[phoenixkiller]

I'll have it in for 1 month, I think that should be ok...

 

[phoenixkiller]

ahh why doesn't it work??