Add fish all at once, or slowly?
- Thread starter jtrasap
- Start date
wooden_reefer
New member
It depends on the type of cycling you do.
If you use the old gradual method, and also do nothing else, the nitrification capacity after cycling will be low. Here, you may have no choice but to add fish slowly and live with mini-cycling.
If you use the modern method, by using bacteria seed and then added ammonia sources, there will be a great deal of nitrification bacteria after cycling to handle much more bioload. Here, the rate of stocking is not limited by ammonia or nitrite concerns.
This title is not a good one.
Better would be
"Is mini-cycling preventable in the modern era?"
If you use the old gradual method, and also do nothing else, the nitrification capacity after cycling will be low. Here, you may have no choice but to add fish slowly and live with mini-cycling.
If you use the modern method, by using bacteria seed and then added ammonia sources, there will be a great deal of nitrification bacteria after cycling to handle much more bioload. Here, the rate of stocking is not limited by ammonia or nitrite concerns.
This title is not a good one.
Better would be
"Is mini-cycling preventable in the modern era?"
wooden_reefer
New member
Yes.
Case II.
How do you add an extremely large fish to a 220 or 330 gal tank that is NOT new, but currently has two medium fish, say two three-inch butterfly fish in a 220 gal. You want to add a ten-inch tang into this tank. The tank was cycled two years ago and has only these two medium fish for all its history. It has a sump and return water from the open loop.
How can you add the ten-inch tang and still have no ammonia at all?
You have six weeks to prepare for the tang.
wooden_reefer
New member
I have given a lot of clues.
Note that I stated that the 220 tank has an open loop return and a sump.
This is a typical way but you can change the details as you see fit:
In a separate container, as simple as a $10 plastic container from K-mart (must be odorless plastic), you can cycle a filter medium separately. You need some crushed oyster shell ($8 for 50 pounds), nylon pantyhose, a small powerhead and a hose.
You do not need live rock for this purpose. You can use crushed oyster shells wrapped in stretched out nylon. This is like balls the same size of very large oranges. You stack them up. You then just drip water over the balls and let it casade down. You then add bacteria seed and wastes. I say likely 3-5 ppm N ammonia three to five times for the whole cycle will do very nicely.
When the medium is done cycling after about five weeks, you can transfer it to the sump of the 220 tank, and you make sure that the return water drips on it.
If you are afraid that the water that you complete the cycle with is too dirty, loaded with nitrate or bad stuffs, you can first rinse it with tank water. All the good bacteria are in/on the medium, you won't lose much by rinsing it.
You make sure that the salinity of DT tank water and container water match before adding to the sump.
You will have NO ammonia whatsover for the tang.
In the coming months, you allow the nitrification bacteria to grow in the live rock of the 220. You can slowly remove one such ball at a time. Gradually, after a few months, the LR in the 220 will take over nitrification.
Last edited:
wooden_reefer
New member
Crushed oyster shell is typically very dusty. You have to wash it very well.
I think you may get 40 pounds of shell from a 50 pounds bag. Ten pounds of dust. This stuff is for calcium for chicken. Get it from a feed store.
You need about 10-15 pounds of oyster shells for this purpose.
You can use crushed coral as well of course. More expensive
I think you may get 40 pounds of shell from a 50 pounds bag. Ten pounds of dust. This stuff is for calcium for chicken. Get it from a feed store.
You need about 10-15 pounds of oyster shells for this purpose.
You can use crushed coral as well of course. More expensive
wooden_reefer
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15749834#post15749834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtrasap
Very cool idea, wooden.
Why couldn't you just state this to begin with?..
I am glad you agree.
The reaction to stocking fish quickly is against the grain for some people.
This was never the first thrust anyway, but it turned out that way.
Even if you stock slowly, never expose any fish to any ammonia if you can help it. Mini-cycling is very bad for fish.
