Hi there, doing a fish in cycle, do I change my water now?

[xsryman]

Lol. Your tank filling hijinx amused me. Maybe you should save your 1 gal milk jugs. You can pre-treat, warm them easier to match tank temp, and alot easier to transport. Just a thought.

 

[Jess1ca]

Lol. Your tank filling hijinx amused me. Maybe you should save your 1 gal milk jugs. You can pre-treat, warm them easier to match tank temp, and alot easier to transport. Just a thought.

Ha! I wish I woulda taped it! Looking back I can laugh about it, I definitely wasnt laughing then I actually had the same thought about milk jugs! It would be sooo much easier if the tank was smaller, that is alot of water to move! Not that I want a smaller tank, it would just be easier lol. I know once this is all said and done I will be happy but right now its a pain in the a$$

 

[xsryman]

Im sorry, i guess i missed what size tamk you said you had. Im doing a fishless cycle on my new 55gal. I havent had to deal with a water change yet but i will probably get one of those deals that hooks up to the faucet. I will drain off what i need then treat the tank itself to create a buffer then pump new water right from the faucet. On a 55gal you have a bit more tolerance. But thats also the beauty of doing a fishless cycle, nothing dies while kicking of the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Jess1ca]

Im sorry, i guess i missed what size tamk you said you had. Im doing a fishless cycle on my new 55gal. I havent had to deal with a water change yet but i will probably get one of those deals that hooks up to the faucet. I will drain off what i need then treat the tank itself to create a buffer then pump new water right from the faucet. On a 55gal you have a bit more tolerance. But thats also the beauty of doing a fishless cycle, nothing dies while kicking of the nitrogen cycle.

Its a 55, I rigged a hose to the sink and will be using that fill up tomorrow I was under the impression I should dechlorinate before adding, which is probably a pretty safe route, just impossible for me lol.

 

[xsryman]

Sweet! Be sure to post. I would love to hear the progress. (Looking forward to part 2 of the fish tank hijinx...lol)

 

[Jess1ca]

Sweet! Be sure to post. I would love to hear the progress. (Looking forward to part 2 of the fish tank hijinx...lol)

Lol! tomorrow is gonna be a BREEZE! Dont jinx me Lol!

 

[xsryman]

I know it will be a breeze. I was joking with you. Still post though, I AM curious to hear about your progress.

 

[Alyxx]

If nothing else, get a 3 or 5 gallon bucket. Those are light enough to lift up and pour water into the tank. You can use a plate or something else that is flat to pour the water onto so it doesn't mess up the gravel.

 

[Jess1ca]

I know it will be a breeze. I was joking with you. Still post though, I AM curious to hear about your progress.

Oh I know you were I was kidding with you too! I will def let ya know what happens Just poured myself a cup of coffee, getting ready to check my parameters here in a couple minutes

 

[Jess1ca]

If nothing else, get a 3 or 5 gallon bucket. Those are light enough to lift up and pour water into the tank. You can use a plate or something else that is flat to pour the water onto so it doesn't mess up the gravel.

After yesterday my decor didnt matter much to me lol. I actually dont have much in there at the moment, just a few cichlid stones and fake plants. I plan on setting it up the way I want once my cycle is complete and Im done doing these massive water changes.... I have also decided I HATE the gravel and want to do sand. I bet I will have to live with this gravel for a while tho until my bb build up, eh?

 

[Hobgob]

The easiest way wouldd be straight from the tap. You could even get another hose and attach a gravel vac on it then Put one end in the toilet or out the window and BAM! Diy python. Or you could go get a python... You have to declhorinate your tank before you add the water. And you had to treat for the total 55 gallons. Even if you are replacing 10gallons... Anyways good look. I have a water change to do also today. Normally I get to just sit and watch though.

 

[Jess1ca]

I ordered a gravel vac! Excited for it to come, its battery operated.... I just hope its not chincy! I got it off eBay I cut a hose up and duct taped it to the faucet and gave it a test run yesterday, seemed to work great! Oh, my active filter arrives today, beyond pumped!

 

[Jess1ca]

This mornings parameters:

Temp: 78
ph: 7.9ish
amm: .50
trite: 0
trate: 0

Time for a water change, a very easy, uncomplicated water change lol.

 

[Jess1ca]

Easy Peasy Water comes out like a charm! Please excuse the dog cage, they are terrors and pull everything into it lol

 

[Jess1ca]

My rig

 

[Jess1ca]

Annnnnd filling! Piece of cake! Only one flood! proud of myself! Thanks for all the help my friends

 

[Jess1ca]

OMG! Look whats right on time!!! MY ACTIVE FILTER!!! hEY HeY HEY!!!

 

[Hobgob]

Good to see it was fun and your filter should speed everything up. It's all coming together lol

 

[Alyxx]

I would go ahead and switch to sand. Better to wipe out any bacteria on your gravel now than to get a bunch built up and remove it after the cycle, perhaps starting a mini cycle. You are already doing the big changes now, so it's better to set the cycle back a little now than to risk having to deal with a second mini cycle after the tank gets established.

 

[Jill]

I would go ahead and switch to sand. Better to wipe out any bacteria on your gravel now than to get a bunch built up and remove it after the cycle, perhaps starting a mini cycle. You are already doing the big changes now, so it's better to set the cycle back a little now than to risk having to deal with a second mini cycle after the tank gets established.

+1

I think now would be a great time. You can get a huge bag of pool filter sand from Home Depot or Lowe's for $5.