Both tanks cycling....got a ?

[ditchdoctor81]

We started cycling our 100g & 20g qt on the 9th. I only had a whisper filter for the qt when we started....well today I just got in another order from drsfosters & my penguin was in it. Can I just put the wheel in either tank now & start getting it seeded, or should I wait until one is done cycling & put the wheel in it then for 2 or 3 weeks?

I'll post back tonight with the levels in both tanks, we are going to test them both again tonight.

Also, we rearranged the rock in the 100 & I'll post up pictures tonight......if I can get my friggin digicam to get good pics of it!

 

[tecwzrd]

I assume your QT is empty and your 100 has all the rock so I'd put your bio-wheel on your QT and cycle it and let your base/lr house the bacteria for your main tank.

 

[ditchdoctor81]

sounds good

so even though it's been in it's cycle for over a week i can go ahead & take out the whisper & put the penguin in & everything will be ok? just making sure.....don't want to mess anything up.

thanks

 

[tecwzrd]

The whisper filter would have built up minimal bacteria at this point so removing it shouldn't prolong your cycle too much. I like and use bio-wheels for QT because they are so efficient at processing ammonia. Assuming you have an adequate nh3 source for both tanks (i.e. the raw shrimp, 1 per 30 gal and/or lr in the main) then the cycle will progress in both tanks equally well. I'd keep your QT bare with the exception of a couple of PVC elbows for your fish to hide.

 

[ditchdoctor81]

Here are a few pictures after we moved the rocks around. I'm sure we will move some of the ones on the top around again. We are getting about 40 more lbs of lr in the next day or so. I'm also trying to smooth out the sand....it kinda piled higher in some spots.

sorry about the reflection of the DoodleBops from the TV in the pics...our son has control of the TV!!

 

[tecwzrd]

Looks great What, he doesn't like the Wiggles?

 

[ditchdoctor81]

we watch Playhouse Disney from the time he gets up in the morning to naptime....lol

he LOVES Handy Manny!!

 

[Ziggy953]

Very nice!!! Where did you get your base rock from?

 

[melosu58]

Very nice DD. Your tank looks great.

 

[ditchdoctor81]

base came from marcorocks

thanks guys....you all have been a great help in getting things started!

 

[chase33]

it does look nice DD. Great job!

 

[ditchdoctor81]

another ? for you all...

We are going to add somewhere around 40 lbs of lr to our 100 gallon. Now for the question...since I'm in the middle of cycling do I need to get cured or un-cured. I don't want much die off. So I'm thinking that I wait for my tank to cycle & get cured lr & have a small cycle (if any)....since I've got a qt that's cycling now also it will be at least 3 to 4 weeks before anything goes into the 100 gallon after it cycles. Is that the better option to wait till it's done cycling, add cured lr while I have a fish in the qt for a few weeks?

 

[tecwzrd]

Unless you are getting your lr directly from a lfs there is going to be die-off either way. IMO uncured lr from most online sites generally has more life on it and cured lr has less and both will have die-off since it's out of water during shipping but uncured will have a little more.

It comes down to how much life you want and how much die-off you want to deal with. Since your tank is still cycling I'd just go with the uncured lr online or cured if buying from a lfs.

Even with the uncured lr it would only prolong your cycle by a couple of weeks at the most.