Yesterday at about 1PM, I finished setting up my newest 20 gallon. I put my tap water in it and I put my water starter in it or whatever it is that clears up the tap water. Anyway, it said after 24 hrs, I could start adding a FEW fish. I don't know what to do? Should I add like 2 or 3 guppies now to let it cycle?
Just set up my new 20 gallon. Whats next?
- Thread starter tben786
- Start date
The "waiting 24 hours" advice does not do anything to cycle the tank. Firstly, beneficial bacteria cannot establish itself that quickly. Second, there would be no food source for the BB to eat (AKA fish food) while it is cycling. Do you have a tank that has been established for at least 3 months? If so, then take the filter cartridge out of the filter of your established tank and simply squeeze the "dirt" off/swirl it around in the tank. Yes, it will look messy, but the establishing filter will clean it up. Plus, you have just instantly cycled your tank! But, be sure to add fish slowly, and, you should add the hardiest fish YOU WANT first. Don't just add a zebra danio/ guppy just because you want it to cycle your tank; you'll just be left with unwanted fish in the end. Just buy the hardiest fish in your stocking list to cycle the tank. It might not be as hardy as a zebra danio, but a lot of fish that are "fragile", like German Blue Ram cichlids and Otocinclus are actually a lot more tolerant of water conditions than you think. You should still add the hardiest fish just to be sure, though.
THAT IS THE KIND OF ADVICE I AM TALKING ABOUT FT333!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, yes rinse the other tanks filter in it for about 30-60 seconds, let the water get a little cloudy even. Taking an ornament from the established tank is not a bad ideal either. You can return it to the other tank in a couple weeks. Before you have done that take a small tiny pinch of food and grid it up between your fingers and then put it in the tank, this will start to decay and feed you beneficial bacteria, just a tiny bit, you do not need much!! Even taking some water from your old tank is not a bad idea either.
Anyway, yes rinse the other tanks filter in it for about 30-60 seconds, let the water get a little cloudy even. Taking an ornament from the established tank is not a bad ideal either. You can return it to the other tank in a couple weeks. Before you have done that take a small tiny pinch of food and grid it up between your fingers and then put it in the tank, this will start to decay and feed you beneficial bacteria, just a tiny bit, you do not need much!! Even taking some water from your old tank is not a bad idea either.
You need to keep adding a bit of flake food everyother day or just toss in a peeled shrimp and let it go. You will need to test the water, first ammonia will rise then fall as nitrite is rising then it will fall only to see nitrate rise. Once nitrate shows you are ok to add a couple fish every week or two. Then just do 10-20% weekly water changes to maintain the nitrates to under 20PPM.