Lynn W.
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi, fishfolk,
I set up my tank using a 20 year-old guidebook (it listed nothing about cycling. Is this a recent practice?) Anyway, I have been doing a fish-in-tank cycling and so far, so good. I have yet to see a dramatic rise in either ammonia or nitrites. I have several live plants in my tank, along with my fish. I also have a couple of pieces of driftwood and some bioballs. I have done several water changes and i have also been using Stability and Prime. Thankfully, none of my fish have died or gotten weakened by the chemical levels.
In the meantime, I have "inherited" a 10 gallon tank that housed a turtle until this week. I need to clean it out (with vinegar and water?). Should I leave the turtle's gravel in the tank after I clean it? Are there any "turtle germs" that could harm fish? My intent is to use this as a quarantine tank for new fish or ill fish. After I clean it, I will start cycling it the right way--with no fish present.
Then, with my tax refund, I invested in a 29 gallon tank. Again, I will begin cycling without any fish present. This will give me 2 freshwater tanks and a holding tank for fish with special needs.
If I use plain old ammonia to start cycling the new tanks, how much should I use for each of the new tanks (10 and 29)?
Thanks again to one and all for your expertise and words of welcome and encouragement!
Lynn
I set up my tank using a 20 year-old guidebook (it listed nothing about cycling. Is this a recent practice?) Anyway, I have been doing a fish-in-tank cycling and so far, so good. I have yet to see a dramatic rise in either ammonia or nitrites. I have several live plants in my tank, along with my fish. I also have a couple of pieces of driftwood and some bioballs. I have done several water changes and i have also been using Stability and Prime. Thankfully, none of my fish have died or gotten weakened by the chemical levels.
In the meantime, I have "inherited" a 10 gallon tank that housed a turtle until this week. I need to clean it out (with vinegar and water?). Should I leave the turtle's gravel in the tank after I clean it? Are there any "turtle germs" that could harm fish? My intent is to use this as a quarantine tank for new fish or ill fish. After I clean it, I will start cycling it the right way--with no fish present.
Then, with my tax refund, I invested in a 29 gallon tank. Again, I will begin cycling without any fish present. This will give me 2 freshwater tanks and a holding tank for fish with special needs.
If I use plain old ammonia to start cycling the new tanks, how much should I use for each of the new tanks (10 and 29)?
Thanks again to one and all for your expertise and words of welcome and encouragement!
Lynn
