KeSs
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hello all,
My 55 gal tank just finished cycling after only 10 days. I would like to share with you how I accomplished this. I got my hand on old aquarium supplies. Everything I used for the aquarium was old and used. However, all of the equipment hadnt been used in months. The only new thing I bought was filter media.
Step 1 (Day 1):
I set up the aquarium and filled it with water/decorations/heater/filter/etc. I then filled up the aquarium with water and treated it. It was during this time that I made sure all of my equipment was still in working order.
Step 2 (Day 1):
I waited for a couple hours and then I threw in a 1 raw jumbo shrimp.
Step 3 (Day 2):
I added 2 bottles of Frtiz Zyme #7. I would imagine that any "live bacteria" substitute could be used in place of Fritz. Although I hear Fritz is one of the best.
Step 4 (Day 3):
I tested the water in the evening (about 24 hours after I put in Fritz Zyme). My test results were: Ammonia = 1, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 8. I could tell that the bacteria I added had already started working because there was a HUGE cloud around the shrimp.
Step 5 (Day 4):
I proceeded to add a pleco to the tank. Later that night the pleco ate some of the shrimp and proceeded to poop EVERYWHERE.
Step 6 (Day 5):
Tested Water: Ammonia = 1.0, Nitrite = 1.0, Nitrate = 10
Step 7 (Day 6):
I add another bottle of Fritz Zyme #7 to the tank. I also add 2 Gold Gouramis. Tested the water later that night: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 2, Nitrate = 30.
Step 8 (Day 8 ):
Fed the gouramis. Tested the water: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = .25, Nitrate = 20. Small pieces of shrimp were still floating around.
*I did a 10% water change at this time*
Step 9 (Day 9):
I proceeded to to another water change (50%)
Step 10 (Day 10):
The fish seem to be doing great and the gouramis are very active. I check the water parameters again: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 15. The water is also sparkling clear.
I was pretty sure my cycle was done but I wanted to make certain that it was. I added a rainbow shark and some of my mollies from my other tank to this tank. I tested the water a few days later and the results were: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 10.
I believe that this might be the fastest way to cycle your tank. The keys to doing this are 1) obtaining plenty of live bacteria 2) Doing water changes once in the Nitrite range 3) testing the water frequently. To me, the most important thing was adding enough live bacteria. It made it so that none of the Ammonia or Nitrite levels were able to spike that high.
Feel free to give this method a shot. Make sure that you test the water and get your fish out of the tank if any of the levels get to high. Also, I would imagine that the addition of any seeded material for already established tanks might be able to speed the process even more.
I am no way stating that this method is 100% sound proof. I just wanted to share some info that I did to help me cycle my tank.
BTW: I spent about $20 in Fritz Zyme
My 55 gal tank just finished cycling after only 10 days. I would like to share with you how I accomplished this. I got my hand on old aquarium supplies. Everything I used for the aquarium was old and used. However, all of the equipment hadnt been used in months. The only new thing I bought was filter media.
Step 1 (Day 1):
I set up the aquarium and filled it with water/decorations/heater/filter/etc. I then filled up the aquarium with water and treated it. It was during this time that I made sure all of my equipment was still in working order.
Step 2 (Day 1):
I waited for a couple hours and then I threw in a 1 raw jumbo shrimp.
Step 3 (Day 2):
I added 2 bottles of Frtiz Zyme #7. I would imagine that any "live bacteria" substitute could be used in place of Fritz. Although I hear Fritz is one of the best.
Step 4 (Day 3):
I tested the water in the evening (about 24 hours after I put in Fritz Zyme). My test results were: Ammonia = 1, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 8. I could tell that the bacteria I added had already started working because there was a HUGE cloud around the shrimp.
Step 5 (Day 4):
I proceeded to add a pleco to the tank. Later that night the pleco ate some of the shrimp and proceeded to poop EVERYWHERE.
Step 6 (Day 5):
Tested Water: Ammonia = 1.0, Nitrite = 1.0, Nitrate = 10
Step 7 (Day 6):
I add another bottle of Fritz Zyme #7 to the tank. I also add 2 Gold Gouramis. Tested the water later that night: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 2, Nitrate = 30.
Step 8 (Day 8 ):
Fed the gouramis. Tested the water: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = .25, Nitrate = 20. Small pieces of shrimp were still floating around.
*I did a 10% water change at this time*
Step 9 (Day 9):
I proceeded to to another water change (50%)
Step 10 (Day 10):
The fish seem to be doing great and the gouramis are very active. I check the water parameters again: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 15. The water is also sparkling clear.
I was pretty sure my cycle was done but I wanted to make certain that it was. I added a rainbow shark and some of my mollies from my other tank to this tank. I tested the water a few days later and the results were: Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 10.
I believe that this might be the fastest way to cycle your tank. The keys to doing this are 1) obtaining plenty of live bacteria 2) Doing water changes once in the Nitrite range 3) testing the water frequently. To me, the most important thing was adding enough live bacteria. It made it so that none of the Ammonia or Nitrite levels were able to spike that high.
Feel free to give this method a shot. Make sure that you test the water and get your fish out of the tank if any of the levels get to high. Also, I would imagine that the addition of any seeded material for already established tanks might be able to speed the process even more.
I am no way stating that this method is 100% sound proof. I just wanted to share some info that I did to help me cycle my tank.
BTW: I spent about $20 in Fritz Zyme