So I have a ten gallon tank, and I have a new 40 gallon. Im going ot fill it up, put the established media from the ten in the back of the hob filter onthe 40 gal. Im also gonna put some pantyhose filled with established gravel in, most of the gravel from the ten. So im gonna do fishless cycle, probably just like using a piece of shrimp or something. 2 questions, how ong do I leave the shrimp in and when should my levels reach the point where I can add two swordtails?
Answers:
Bringing all that bacteria over will cause a very fast and mild cycle certainly. I would suggest just using a bit of fish food to get the ammonia for the cycle. "Feed" the empty tank a day or so before you move the filter media though so that some ammonia will already be in the water or much of your bacteria may starve to death before the ammonia builds up. Watch the ammonia levels with your test kit and move the media over once you see ammonia building up from the feedings. Then once it drops (probably no more than a week tops) you are good to move in fish. I would say to be sure you vacuum out any food in the tank though, no need to have that in your new tank.
Good luck with it and congrats on the new tank!
MM
The time it's takes to cycle varies, if your water is warmer its slightly faster and longer if it's colder. When the gravel from an establish tank it could possible be in the range of 10 days or slightly. Use an ammonia and nitrite kit so that you could check it accurately.
With the bacterial (in your media and gravel) you brought over from your 10, you should be able to bring the two swordtail over immediately. I don't predict a major ammonia spike with 2 swordtails.
If you put established median in the filter and gravel in the tank it will be ready for the fish immediatly. You would be able to put a complete bioload in the tank and just feed sparsly (1 time every other day). By putting the established stuff in the tank you are jumpstarting the tank and it will only go through a very mini cycle which, most of the time, you will not notice. Good Luck!
As you propose the cycle will take several weeks, 5 or 6. The reason being that you will have to wait for the rotting shrimp(or the organic matter of your choice) to form ammonia in a quantity that will nourish a beginning colony of Nitrosomonas. A couple of weeks could be saved if you could find some liquid ammonia that doesn't contain any other additives. The best source I've found is cheap cleaning products,usually found at discount stores,also usually the cheaper the better. Just watch the label for any other additives. Which ever source of ammonia you use,get a test kit and look for fairly high levels of ammonia (in the "danger" range of the kit). Seeding the new tank,with material from the old one, will help with the establishment of new colonies of bacteria,but actually doesn't save a lot of time,because the bacteria in the new tank can't really begin to do the de-nitrifing work until they have formed new colonies that are attached to solid surfaces in the tank,filter, rocks,gravel,all that stuff in the tank. Use your test kit to answer the second part of the question. After the initial "spike" in the ammonia you will begin to see Nitrites rising(this is the Nitrosomonas colony working) The nitrites should also spike and begin to recede(Nitrobacter kicking in). When the Nitrites begin to also recede, and reach a safe level,(the test kit again),you have a cycled tank. When the tank is fully cycled you can add more than just a couple of Swordtails (one male to three females is a good ratio),but 5 or 6 fish every two weeks would be prudent,to allow the tank to balance it's bio-load. The other thing that might help speed up the process would be to get the temperature up to 80 degrees F.(The ideal temp for the bacteria.) You are to be commended for using fishless cycling,it is a much more humane method and prevents your livestock from being exposed to a toxic environment. Good job,and good luck.----PeeTee
I did the same thing with my 30 gallon to 55 gallon. You shouldn't have to cycle overly much but remember, you only had enough bacteria for a tank 1/4 the size.
I wouldn't even bother with the shrimp or fishless cycling. You can add the two swordtails immediately. They don't put a big bioload out, so the ammonia levels won't spike up immediately.
Give it a week or so and add another couple of smallish fish.
As an FYI: I moved out of the 30 gallon, a 6" parrot cichlid, a 4" Jack Dempsey, a 5" severum and a 4" loach and because of the gravel and filter media (I put the 55 gallon filter on with the 30 gallon filter for about a week in the 30 gallon tank before the switch), I barely got a rise in ammonia. It was so stressless that even the parrot...who normally gets black stress markings if I move a CAVE in his tank, never changed colour at all.
you shouldnt need to use the shrimp if your using the established filter, that should be good enought. all tanks vary, it could take a week to a month to get your cycle finished. Just dont rush. as soon as all levels are good, you can go ahead and add your cleanup crew and start adding fish slowly. im not familar with swordtails, if they are big, you should only add one then the other one a week after, if are your levels are still good. otherwise you can add both at the same time.
I wouldn't use shrimp. They are not hardy enough. Instead use Black Mollys. They are very hardy and do a great job in cycling a tank, plus they are fairly cheap too.
I also would not use gravel from the outside. It could be filled with dangerous bacteria and other organisms. Best thing is to use fresh, new gravel bought from the store. You will be asking for trouble the other way.
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