using old gravel

[swmmnglessons]

I read in an answer to another post that you can use gravel from an established tank to cycle a new one. Here's my deal....I had a 5 1/2 gal with a sunset gourami, 4 neon tetras, an algae eater and a dwarf frog and moved them into a 10 gal a few weeks ago. I left the old tank sitting half empty (used half the water for the new tank) and has been that way since. The filter and light have been off. I just got a 20 high a few days ago and wanted to do a fishless cycle (not sure how exactly) before attempting to start a cichlid tank. Already put in 20 lbs of new gravel but need to add more since it's a high tank. Could I use the 5 lbs of old gravel even though it's been sitting in stagnant water for 3 weeks? And what are some good cichlids to put in a 20 high?

[EMS503]

I have used gravel from an existing tank to seed the new tank with bacteria with no problems. But these tanks were still operating.
Only my opinion but I would be concerned with what might have grown in a stagnate tank, I would just by new. There have been posts about a fishless cycle using shrimp, I don't know if this was just for SW or both.
Its in the SW archives on this site.

[CRaZeeeBiTcHisH]

i wouldn't use gravel that old, and i doubt it would be of any use to you...i have always heard angelfish are good for a 20 high, but they seem to get rather large for it....

[swmmnglessons]

I think I'll just clean the old gravel really well with bleach so I don't have to buy more...

[CRaZeeeBiTcHisH]

that would be fine, just be sure to rinse, rinse, rinse, then rinse and add some extra dechlorinator--make sure the bleach smell is gone, then you should be fine

[Ramrebel]

I got my tank because the previous owner bleached the gravel and lost all inside. I gained by his loss but waddaya gonna do. Be very careful with the bleach!

Ed

[Jacob Morgan]

I've never bleached I have just washed with hot water.. tho I never had access to these forums when I was in F/w and have long since taken down thsoe tank :-/



Why is it you can't wash with hot water?


Jacob

[CRaZeeeBiTcHisH]

you can wash with hot water, but bleach in a 1:10 solution will kill just about anything...even things that can tolerate the hot water....and if you rinse well like i posted, you should have no problems--i haven't lost a fish yet to bleaching, and man am i paranoid about cleaning out the nasties!!!

[michealprater]

Ciclids are almost bullet proof. Just rinse your old gravel. bleachless. fill it and throw in a couple of small ciclids, and i promise you if you buy heathy specimens youll be fine. ciclids are the easiest fish ive ever seen to keep. the only way ive killed a ciclid was by not detecting a disease quick enough. ive found a tank with a medium load of ciclids and enough plecos for the size of tank, takes care of its self. just feed em', 25% water change 1 to 3 months and your golden. some may argue, but me and two of my uncles have proved this theory correct time and time again

[CRaZeeeBiTcHisH]

a water change every 3 months may not kill them, but it is not in the best interest of your fish...