Cycling QT

[MarkW19]

I'm just planning to start my QT up once again, 3rd time lucky!

I'm currently seeding the filter pads from my QT fitler in my main tank for 2 weeks, then I'm going to cycle my QT.

What's the best way to cycle it? I dont want to use a shrimp as the tank's in my bedroom.

I used biomature to cycle my main tank and that worked a treat...thinking of doing the same again.

Or, can I just add a bit of food each day to cycle it?

 

[blorkiemom]

I just cycled a QT with a small amount of LR and I'm not that happy with the results. I did see a cycle (ammonia never got over .25, so it was pretty gentle) but now that I have added 2 fish to the tank (20 g) I'm having a mini-cycle. Not loving putting the fish through that, though I'm changing water every day. So I wouldn't do LR. (I wanted to avoid shrimp in the bedroom, too.)

But if you can seed from your main tank, do you even need to cycle? Am I all wet that that filter pads have all the bacteria you need?

 

[quarryshark]

You can put is some flake everyday or even a bit of frozen.
Really I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you are using a seeded sponge and water from the main, you can go ahead and introduce you fish. The real battle with ammonia will be with water changes.

 

[MarkW19]

The only reason I'm going to cycle first this time, is because the last 2 times in my QT with just using seeded filter pads, I couldn't keep the ammonia and nitrites down. Even with loads of water changes.

I thought that if I give the tank more time to establish bacteria, by doing a cycle, that the ammonia and nitrites would stay more under control.

 

[quarryshark]

Ok, then maybe the frozen food would work. Shouldn't smell up the joint.
7 weeks ago I dumped my entire stock into a 40 gallon qt tank without a cycle, just the seeded sponge and water from the main. I had a huge battle with ammonia for a week and it then leveled off. I was changing a 12 gallons a day, this kept the fish healthy until a good cycle set up. While doing this I was dropping the spg to treat for ich (double trouble).
Thereafter I only neede to change 5 gallons a day and my ammonia has remained at 0. I lost no fish to ammonia.
I am convinced that many do not change enough, or change frequently enough in a qt setting. It was hard work, but my little wet friends are in better shape because of it.

 

[MarkW19]

Hehe, ok....so I should be using water from the main tank for the initial fill-up?

Some say yes, some say no...

 

[quarryshark]

I say yes, as long as there is no disease present.

 

[MarkW19]

Cool - I'll put a bit of food in each day, and not take it out. Can I do anything else to speed the cycle up?

 

[quarryshark]

No that should do it. I have 3 qt tanks going right now and believe me the key is water changes.

 

[MarkW19]

Well, I'm hoping that cycling it first will mean I'll not have to do as many waterchanges.