Cycling

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

Donald,

It's a 63gallon tank. I've got plants (some leaves dropped off, i've
left them to decay) and i've added about 10 pellets of food.

I'm off to the LFS to get some liquid ammonia and a better(and
another) filter (Fluval 4)

Ah, the plants...

They compete with the biobuggies for the ammonia and nitrite. Also seed
the tank with biobuggies so you don't have to start from scratch.

In that case, I'd just slowly add your population of fish and keep an
eye on the NH3 and NO2 levels. A new fish or two (depending on size)
every three days or so. Should be fine.

-D
--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law

Donald Kerns wrote:
They compete with the biobuggies for the ammonia and nitrite. Also seed
the tank with biobuggies so you don't have to start from scratch.

In that case, I'd just slowly add your population of fish and keep an
eye on the NH3 and NO2 levels. A new fish or two (depending on size)
every three days or so. Should be fine.

Donald,

I did add a carbon filter from my old tank and dumped it on top of
the filters in the cycling tank. I added about 3 pints worth of
old tank water and a stone bridge from my old tank.

I've now added my two fish. They seem happy, but I have noticed
that the ammonia had risen this morning. The levels are low, but
detectable. I will be doing a water change to even those levels to
0 later.

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:



Donald Kerns wrote:
They compete with the biobuggies for the ammonia and nitrite. Also
seed the tank with biobuggies so you don't have to start from
scratch.

In that case, I'd just slowly add your population of fish and keep an
eye on the NH3 and NO2 levels. A new fish or two (depending on size)
every three days or so. Should be fine.

Donald,

I did add a carbon filter from my old tank and dumped it on top of
the filters in the cycling tank. I added about 3 pints worth of
old tank water and a stone bridge from my old tank.

The filter and stone bridge will help, the water won't (unless it was
really grungy mulm).

I've now added my two fish. They seem happy, but I have noticed
that the ammonia had risen this morning. The levels are low, but
detectable. I will be doing a water change to even those levels to
0 later.

Yup, don't need to drive it to zero, but hovering about the first
detectable level.

How big are those 2 fish in a 60-some odd gallon tank?

-D

--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law

Donald Kerns wrote:


Yup, don't need to drive it to zero, but hovering about the first
detectable level.

How big are those 2 fish in a 60-some odd gallon tank?

They are about 2 and 2.5 inchs long excluding tail.

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:



Donald Kerns wrote:


Yup, don't need to drive it to zero, but hovering about the first
detectable level.

How big are those 2 fish in a 60-some odd gallon tank?

They are about 2 and 2.5 inchs long excluding tail.

You've got lucky fish! :-)

-D
--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law

Donald Kerns wrote:

You've got lucky fish! :-)

Donald,

I've been going to work early last couple of days and turned
their light on early and noticed both sunk at the bottom. I assumed
something was wrong until they perked up 2 minutes later. Think
I caught them asleep - very cute!

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

I've now added my two fish. They seem happy, but I have noticed
that the ammonia had risen this morning. The levels are low, but
detectable.

Other than getting awoken from their beauty sleep [ ;-) ], how
are those guys doing?

-D
--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law

Donald Kerns wrote:

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

I've now added my two fish. They seem happy, but I have noticed
that the ammonia had risen this morning. The levels are low, but
detectable.

Other than getting awoken from their beauty sleep [ ;-) ], how
are those guys doing?

They seem to be doing good now, current is strong but they are getting the
hang of it. It certainly takes them longer to find food now!

Also bought two baby moors yesterday and 2 golden apple snails
for the smaller tank.
They are only about an inch in length including their tails.
They did the swim, drop to bottom and not move, swim, drop to bottom
again routine to start with, but seem to be adjusting.