Cycling a fully stocked tank... - Aquarium Advice

Screwylui · 03-28-2005, 12:01 PM

i was just wondering if the procedures for cycling a new, sparsley populated tank would be the same for cycling an already fully stocked tank. i guess i was impatient and started adding fish too early, my nitrites still keep on rising occasionaly.

Thanks

Wooster · 03-28-2005, 01:00 PM

well, since there are fish in there it would be wise to make a [acronym:006154a90d="Partial water change"]pwc[/acronym:006154a90d] every now and then. but i have found that only to slow the whole cycle process if one goes overboard with the changes.

RoK · 03-28-2005, 03:42 PM

Well, if it's fully stocked you will get very high ammonia and nitrite levels which will result in fish deaths. You will have to do frequent water changes to keep these levels down but don't touch the gravel or filter media.

TomK2 · 03-28-2005, 06:47 PM

Well, can you be more specific? Like, how many fish is sparsly stocked, and for how long did you do this for? What kind of readings did you get with sparse stock? then how many fish did you add, and what readings did you get after that?

the concern is that going rapidly to full stock can result in high ammonia and nitrite just as if you never tried to cycle with low bioload to begin with. This would require intervention on your part, either get some fish out of the tank or become the water change king to preserve the stock you have.

Screwylui · 03-28-2005, 10:06 PM

lol @ water change king. well i'd imagine that the cycle has gone at least half way because i no longer get ammonia readings.. it's just that the nitrites won't get to zero. i don't know if it's the test kit i'm using (hagen) but the test tube is always pinkish.. indicating some nitrites. although i'm thinking that the cycle is getting along slowly because my nitrates are rising to the point where they are higher than nitrites.
right now i've changed my [acronym:dea8074aac="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:dea8074aac] 150's media so that it's only the foam insert and then filled it with biorings. do you think charcoal is neccessary?
[acronym:dea8074aac="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:dea8074aac]

Screwylui · 03-29-2005, 02:08 AM

bump ^^^

TomK2 · 03-29-2005, 02:49 PM

[acronym:8a3a7dbc80="Sodium"]Na[/acronym:8a3a7dbc80], skip the charcoal. It won't help the cycle.

buggsmarinetank · 03-30-2005, 06:07 PM

I use cycle additives in my tanks, it seems to speed up the process. I also uses a phosphate pad that absorbs nitrite, nitrate, and phosphates. That would help your levels from getting extrememly high. Phosphate pad is $3.29 from pets mart, and cycle is liek $6.99 for about a few months worth.

03-28-2005, 12:01 PM	#1
Screwylui Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 40	Cycling a fully stocked tank... i was just wondering if the procedures for cycling a new, sparsley populated tank would be the same for cycling an already fully stocked tank. i guess i was impatient and started adding fish too early, my nitrites still keep on rising occasionaly. Thanks

03-28-2005, 03:42 PM	#3
RoK Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,224 Images: 11	Well, if it's fully stocked you will get very high ammonia and nitrite levels which will result in fish deaths. You will have to do frequent water changes to keep these levels down but don't touch the gravel or filter media. __________________ Current fish (includes all 8 running tanks): Gouramis, polypterids, SA cichlids, convicts, rainbows, plecos, loaches, ACFs, a platy, tetra, & a Ctenopoma

03-28-2005, 06:47 PM	#4
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	Well, can you be more specific? Like, how many fish is sparsly stocked, and for how long did you do this for? What kind of readings did you get with sparse stock? then how many fish did you add, and what readings did you get after that? the concern is that going rapidly to full stock can result in high ammonia and nitrite just as if you never tried to cycle with low bioload to begin with. This would require intervention on your part, either get some fish out of the tank or become the water change king to preserve the stock you have. __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

03-29-2005, 02:49 PM	#7
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	[acronym:8a3a7dbc80="Sodium"]Na[/acronym:8a3a7dbc80], skip the charcoal. It won't help the cycle. __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

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03-28-2005, 01:00 PM	#2
Wooster Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Posts: 67	well, since there are fish in there it would be wise to make a [acronym:006154a90d="Partial water change"]pwc[/acronym:006154a90d] every now and then. but i have found that only to slow the whole cycle process if one goes overboard with the changes.

03-28-2005, 10:06 PM	#5
Screwylui Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 40	lol @ water change king. well i'd imagine that the cycle has gone at least half way because i no longer get ammonia readings.. it's just that the nitrites won't get to zero. i don't know if it's the test kit i'm using (hagen) but the test tube is always pinkish.. indicating some nitrites. although i'm thinking that the cycle is getting along slowly because my nitrates are rising to the point where they are higher than nitrites. right now i've changed my [acronym:dea8074aac="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:dea8074aac] 150's media so that it's only the foam insert and then filled it with biorings. do you think charcoal is neccessary? [acronym:dea8074aac="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:dea8074aac]

03-29-2005, 02:08 AM	#6
Screwylui Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 40	bump ^^^

03-30-2005, 06:07 PM	#8
buggsmarinetank Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 55	I use cycle additives in my tanks, it seems to speed up the process. I also uses a phosphate pad that absorbs nitrite, nitrate, and phosphates. That would help your levels from getting extrememly high. Phosphate pad is $3.29 from pets mart, and cycle is liek $6.99 for about a few months worth.

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