cycling

[minky123]

So my bro has got a new tank. I told him about cycling and which ways you cam do it. He has chosen to do fish in. It's a 55g and has a marinelabd emperor 440. I gave him some used filter pads that were from my established 30 and gravel from my tank. So in the filter there are media trays and I put the gravel in the trays, is this ok?? He is also doing daily 50% pwc. About how long do you guys think it will take to cycle with the used media. There are 3 silver dollars in the tank now.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

So my bro has got a new tank. I told him about cycling and which ways you cam do it. He has chosen to do fish in. It's a 55g and has a marinelabd emperor 440. I gave him some used filter pads that were from my established 30 and gravel from my tank. So in the filter there are media trays and I put the gravel in the trays, is this ok?? He is also doing daily 50% pwc. About how long do you guys think it will take to cycle with the used media. There are 3 silver dollars in the tank now.

Hi,

You don't really need to put the gravel in the filter. It can stay in the tank.

Depending on how big of a bioload you have and you water change schedule and if you read your params correctly, it could take anywhere from a week to two months. The seeded media will help. I don't know how much of a bioload silver dollars have, but I do know that they can't fit in a 55 gallon tank, sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Good luck though to your and your brother!

 

[jlk]

With your established media in his filter & only 3 fish, its highly possible he will never see a spike of ammonia or nitrite. Good job on educating your brother!!! Just make sure he stocks very slowly and stays on top of testing. Water changes if theres a spike in ammonia or nitrite to keep them under .25ppm. Otherwise, things look good!

 

[minky123]

Thanks both of you I appreciate it. Is there anything else he could do ttp make the cycle go along faster or is that all I could really do

 

[minky123]

To make

 

[jlk]

Maybe you should advise your brother to join this site as well! Just a suggestion....

 

[jlk]

More establishd media is the only way to speed cycling up. Do not put your tank into a cycle by donating all of yours though! Patience is a key word in cycling.

 

[minky123]

Hahaha I will!! Another question, can silver dollars really not fit in a 55?

 

[minky123]

Oh I won't I have compartments for two filter pads so I'm good to go

 

[Greenpillow]

Hahaha I will!! Another question, can silver dollars really not fit in a 55?

We have silver dollars in a 36 gal. They have lived for 6 years! Still going strong.

 

[minky123]

Hahaha good to know thanks

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Hahaha I will!! Another question, can silver dollars really not fit in a 55?

As far as I know, no. Then again, I've never kept them before. I've always heard 75-90 gallon minimum for silver dollars.

 

[minky123]

Ok because I have silver dollars in my 55 and they seem happy.

 

[minky123]

Ok well I tested my bros water this weekend. Sunday morning it read
Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
I tested again at night and it read the same thing. I beloved the tank is fully cycled. Should he test again later tonight or can he add more fish now

 

[jlk]

Just a suggestion here, but perhaps you consider posting a stocking thread for what (if any) other types of fish would work in your brothers tank. I would wait atleast a week before considering adding any more fish to be sure that the amm/nitrite stay steadily at zero.

 

[minky123]

Ok well there are only three silver doallers in there now but ill tell him to wait about a week