Cycling Report

iamntbatman

Keep in mind that the bacteria that are establishing themselves in your tank are only sufficient to handle the bioload of the fish you've got in the tank. When you add more fish, do it slowly, as it will take time for the bacteria to multiply in order to handle the increased bioload. And be sure to keep an eye on those water parameters after more fish are added.

1077

+one for what iamntbatman said.

Blissfulfish

Thanks to everyone for their help. Today I got my first definitive ammonia reading. It is definitely above zero but below .25ppm. I've got the six danios in there and they are all doing very well. I'll keep a close eye on the tank parameters. I don't plan on adding any fish until the cycle is completely done. Hopefully these six danios will survive because I'd like them to be permanent members of the community tank.

I would like to set myself up a quarantine/hospital tank. I don't want the tank set up permanently, only when I need it. I've done some research and this is the plan so far. I'll get a 5.5 gallon tank with hood/light and a small heater. No gravel but a decoration or two to provide hiding spots. What I was thinking of doing is putting a small sponge filter into my main tank now so that it will build up a good bacteria base. When I buy new fish, or have a sick fish that needs to be quarantined, I could siphon out 5 or so gallons from the main tank into the hospital tank. From what I've read, if I then move the sponge filter from the main tank into the hospital tank I shouldn't have to wait for a cycle. Once I'm done with the quarantine tank I'd put a new sponge on the sponge filter and put it back into the main tank to start building another bacteria base.

It all sounds good in theory but I'm not sure if it would really work. Anyone have experience doing it that way? Anyways, thank you all again. I'll keep you up to date.

BTW, this is my stocking plan:
6 danios
6 Lemon Tetras
5 or 6 Panda Cory cats

iamntbatman

That sounds perfect. You shouldn't need to use tank water from the big tank in the hospital tank. The seeded sponge filter should be home to enough bacteria to keep any fish in quarantine healthy. Make sure you get a fully adjustable heater for the quarantine tank, as it will be useful to be able to raise the temp should new fish you buy come from the store with ich or velvet.

I do the same thing for hospital/quarantine except I have a power filter that I can move. However, I have seeded sponge filters in big tanks, plopped them in smaller ones and added fish straightaway without ever seeing any ammonia or nitrites in the small tank.

Blissfulfish

Awesome, thanks much iamntbatman. You and everyone else has been a big help. How long do you usually leave new fish in quarantine? Also, I know fish need to be added slowly. I've been thinking, once the cycle is done, to introduce 3 at a time. Is that too many?

Thanks all!

iamntbatman

Three at a time is fine. A week in quarantine is great. Two weeks if you're really paranoid. Of course, you'll have to leave them in there longer if it turns out they're sick and you need to medicate or otherwise treat them.

Oldman47

Two weeks is not paranoid. By some estimations it is not long enough. A week would be plenty if the only thing you worried about was ich but some things won't show symptoms for several weeks.

Tyyrlym

A couple of things, I'd get a bigger QT tank myself. You don't wanna go nuts with it, bigger tanks take more meds, but some fish aren't going to like being in a five gallon tank. I use a 15 gallon rubbermaid box and that's about as big as I'd go. If I was getting an aquarium I'd get a 10 gallon tank myself.

I use the sponge filter method and it works very well. I seeded it initially in my main tank and moved it over no problem. Since I'm still stocking my tank I don't have to worry about keeping it seeded between different groups of fish.

I QT for four weeks. If any of the fish have anything it's going to show up.