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Re: [Killietalk] Tank cycling
Hi Melvin,
The best way to do fishless cycling is to buy a sponge filter set it up in a healthy existing fish stir up a little of the gravel let it run for a couple of days. Bingo instant cycled.
when I know I am going to set up several new tanks at a time ie: fish coming home from a show.
I will actually place 4-5 spnge filters around in existing healthy tanks and let them run prior to the show.
If i should happen to buy more fish than I had planned I swap out some spawning mops with other species. Usually targeting completely unrelated species. ie: Ep. lamottei and Riv. cryptocallus eggs are nothing alike and neither are the fish. The mop has a substantial Bio filter already there.
A good clump of Java moss, water sprite(with good roots), and any number of other plant species will also do the trick. Having a high surface area!! DO NOT rinse simply shake them a little and transfer.
When I worked in a pet shop for 6 years I came up with several alternatives (before bacterial additives like cycle and bio stars). I used to recommend 50% water changes 3x's weekly for 2-3 weeks then twice weekly for 2 weeks then 25% weekly or biweekly from then on. What happened was that there was little chance for a major shift in ammonia, nirtite, or nitrates!! The Customer could moderately stock most aquariums without difficulty or losses. A much more even load of ammonia allowing time for the necessary bacteria to grow.
The second alternative was simply giving them a cup of wet, not saturated gravel from a healthy tank. This would hold a sound bio load and cycle the tank without fail. usually from the expensive odd ball tanks ie: electric cats which would stay in the stores for months on end. Besides It would give the customers a laugh when I got nailed!! POINT of that was that the oddballs were obviously healthy and the tanks were not exposed to a constant flow of unhealthy fish!!
Lee VH <><
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