This will be my 1 Oscar & 1 Pleco only tank. I have them now and they are only an inch and a half in size. They currently reside in my 29g community tank. Question is should I cycle the big tank with the oscar and pleco or should I put a few swordtails from my communtiy tank?
Just a thought, but you also have the option of doing a fishless cycle, especially since you can try to move beneficial bacteria from your existing tank to the 75 gal.
I am going to set up my 210 gallon tank this weekend. I am going to transfer my gravel and one Biowheel filter from the existing tank to help with the cycling. I may also transfer some water from water changes and purchase some plants to help out. Then after a month or two I will remove the filter and gravel. I hope to add my fish in in about a month, do you think that is too soon?
I agree that you can do a fishless cycle but you can do it faster if you add ammonia daily to get the beneficial bacteria. I will post a link you can follow and see how to do this. I have used it a couple of times and love it.
Robert. If you're using a filter wheel from an already established tank and some of it's gravel, your cycling will happen within a few days, if not immediately. Since you are introducing the beneficial bacteria you shouldn't see any ammonia spike at all. I think you guys are worrying too much. The biggest problem with non planted tanks is inadequate filtration and excessive feeding. It's not getting the cycle going. I firmly believe that you should provide at least double the filtration recommended and you won't have problems ever. Always buy pre-packaged bacteria unless you have live plants, and it's hard to go wrong. Cycling shouldn't be such a chore.
Thanks for the advice. I am just afraid to lose some of the little guys. I don't want to introduce them too early. Strange to get attatched to a fish, but they all have interesting personalities. It will be interesting to see if they change in their new tank.
I moved all my fish to the 75 gallon tank and I'm now doing the fish less cycle in my 29 gallon. I'm on day 7 and I finally have the nitrates in tank. I'm guessing just several more days and I should see my ammonia and nitrite levels drop. After changing the water I'll move my fish and cycle the big tank:)
To cycle this size of tank i would put a few danios and a few barbs to help it get started. After about 2 weeks you should slowly introduce fish. Change 10 percent of the water every week for the first month. About every 2 days add about 2 fish. By the third week the aquarium should be stabilized and nice
first,get the tank set up. Then you by like 7 fish to start cycling the tank.After a few days, you might be able to by acople fish. But before you by acople of more fish macture that the fish that are cycling your 75 gallon fish tankare used to the water. Don't make the water to hot or to cold. That is how you set up a 75 gallon fish tank!
