Hi all,
I am just starting my first fishless cycle on a 120 gallon tank. Decorated with driftwood and sand substrate. Since I plan to move my school of silver dollars in there (they aren't full grown), I have used mostly artificial plants, except I threw in a couple small java ferns which they don't seem to eat. I am on day 3 the the cycle attempt. This is my third tank (I also have a fully cycled 5 gallon and 36 gallon). Since this is my first fishless cycle, I want to make sure I am doing it correctly. Here is what I have done so far:
Day 1: Filled tank. Declorinated water with Prime and dosed Seachem Stability (not sure if that was right, but I had them so I used them.) Dosed household ammonia to 4ppm (give or take). Took one of the dirty filter cartridges from my 36 (it has two HOB filters) and the one from my little 5 and swished them around in the water.
Day 2: Took about a cup or so of gravel from the 36 gallon wrapped in the end of a pair of nylons and dropped it in the tank. I also moved some 3 inch or so sized decorative rocks from 36 gallon to the new tank.
Day 3 (today): Tested ammonia early this morning, still at about 4ppm.
My questions are two fold:
1. Should I be doing anything different?
2. Will the media (gravel rocks etc) from my other tanks be effective enough for such a bigger tank or am I still in for a long road?
I am just starting my first fishless cycle on a 120 gallon tank. Decorated with driftwood and sand substrate. Since I plan to move my school of silver dollars in there (they aren't full grown), I have used mostly artificial plants, except I threw in a couple small java ferns which they don't seem to eat. I am on day 3 the the cycle attempt. This is my third tank (I also have a fully cycled 5 gallon and 36 gallon). Since this is my first fishless cycle, I want to make sure I am doing it correctly. Here is what I have done so far:
Day 1: Filled tank. Declorinated water with Prime and dosed Seachem Stability (not sure if that was right, but I had them so I used them.) Dosed household ammonia to 4ppm (give or take). Took one of the dirty filter cartridges from my 36 (it has two HOB filters) and the one from my little 5 and swished them around in the water.
Day 2: Took about a cup or so of gravel from the 36 gallon wrapped in the end of a pair of nylons and dropped it in the tank. I also moved some 3 inch or so sized decorative rocks from 36 gallon to the new tank.
Day 3 (today): Tested ammonia early this morning, still at about 4ppm.
My questions are two fold:
1. Should I be doing anything different?
2. Will the media (gravel rocks etc) from my other tanks be effective enough for such a bigger tank or am I still in for a long road?
