Cich Mind
please share what you end up doing and give us a follow up in a few months. Too many of these types of posts are never followed up; it'd be great to see what you do and how it works out for you 
Marineland filter media ideas
- Thread starter Cich Mind
- Start date
Cich Mind
please share what you end up doing and give us a follow up in a few months. Too many of these types of posts are never followed up; it'd be great to see what you do and how it works out for you 
Thanks a bunch C Chicxulub ,
I appreciate the interest very much. I will definitly follow up on progress. I plan to cycle my tank very soon, I just got my tank and stand out of storage. I'm missing a bunch of equipment that I am ordering for my tank. The filter I mentioned will be delivered here today or tomorrow along with some Stability and a heater. The rest will follow. I don't know if I should use this thread to follow up or start a brand new one. I'm kinda new to this forum.
It's best to follow up on this topic in this thread; that way everyone who has already subscribed to this topic will be notified as to the update, rather than starting over again from scratch.
Okay, I will do that. I just wasn't sure about what to do about the thread. Thanks for the heads up. Sweet, UPS just dropped off my filters!
I agree with this...
and it might be a good idea to post progress of the cycle, as it proceeds,
such as
how long it takes to neutralize ammonia, then the progression to and from nitrite, and finally how long it takes to test only nitrate.
And post test results (numbers in ppm)
This is the kind of info noobs need to realize how long it takes to cycle a tank from scratch.
By the way here is a shot of some ceramic rings.
Remember bio-media is just a surface for beneficial bacteria to live on, it could be ceramic rings, could be lava rock from Home Depot, or could be old toothbrushes you were going to throw away, in the end it doesn't really matter. And how much is necessary is due to stocking. Piling it up a ton of it doesn't give you any more bio-filtration than the food (ammonia) put out by your fish load.
And if you use the bio wheels, you may find keeping and old screw around to ream out the minuscule holes the water trickles out of, is a good idea. They will always plug up no matter what.
Thanks for your reply
duanes
,
Yes I will be cycling from scratch. It will probably take a while. One of my LFS's offered me active gravel to seed my tank. I will also be using Stability. Do you know how long to use Stability by chance? Also, how long before I can add fish? A month or so? Thanks
duanes
,Yes I will be cycling from scratch. It will probably take a while. One of my LFS's offered me active gravel to seed my tank. I will also be using Stability. Do you know how long to use Stability by chance? Also, how long before I can add fish? A month or so? Thanks
From scratch, feeding with pure ammonia, could take 6 to 8 weeks.
I have never used or needed to use stability, or any of those type products.
I usually use seasoned substrate, and/or because I use sumps for filtration,I usually connect a new tank, to an already running sump, so I never need to cycle.
If using seasoned media, you will need to feed it, so either by adding a few fish, or adding a few drops of ammonia (not at the same time).
I have never used or needed to use stability, or any of those type products.
I usually use seasoned substrate, and/or because I use sumps for filtration,I usually connect a new tank, to an already running sump, so I never need to cycle.
If using seasoned media, you will need to feed it, so either by adding a few fish, or adding a few drops of ammonia (not at the same time).
Hey duanes,
I wish I had other tanks running. The only choice I have right now is seasoned gravel from LFS. I don't personally know anyone with an aquarium. Are you saying that you recommend using ammonia instead of Stability? I was thinking about adding something like Giant Danios or Tetras sometime during the cycle. Would the extra gravel help kickstart the process? I bought some ammonia last week, then I read about Stability and how it has worked for other members quite well.
I wish I had other tanks running. The only choice I have right now is seasoned gravel from LFS. I don't personally know anyone with an aquarium. Are you saying that you recommend using ammonia instead of Stability? I was thinking about adding something like Giant Danios or Tetras sometime during the cycle. Would the extra gravel help kickstart the process? I bought some ammonia last week, then I read about Stability and how it has worked for other members quite well.
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Since I've never used Stability I can't comment on its efficacy, except to say Stability is not ammonia, it is cultured/bottled inert bacteria.
Ammonia is food food for bacteria.
If you have fresh seasoned substrate, the fish feed the bacteria in the substrate by producing ammonia as waste.
Without fish, to keep that seasoned substrate alive and healthy, it needs a source of ammonia, and oxygen, that's what I mean by adding a few drops of ammonia to the tank to feed it, and having a filter running to keep the water aerated is important.
Both need to be there to keep seasoned substrate viable.
If you have seasoned substrate sitting somewhere without feeding it, or dry, those beneficial bacteria will either go inert or die off.
Without seasoned substrate, adding ammonia to a filled tank produces those same bacteria automatically, although it may take a little longer.
Either way, you will need to test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to know if the tank is actually cycled.
Ammonia is food food for bacteria.
If you have fresh seasoned substrate, the fish feed the bacteria in the substrate by producing ammonia as waste.
Without fish, to keep that seasoned substrate alive and healthy, it needs a source of ammonia, and oxygen, that's what I mean by adding a few drops of ammonia to the tank to feed it, and having a filter running to keep the water aerated is important.
Both need to be there to keep seasoned substrate viable.
If you have seasoned substrate sitting somewhere without feeding it, or dry, those beneficial bacteria will either go inert or die off.
Without seasoned substrate, adding ammonia to a filled tank produces those same bacteria automatically, although it may take a little longer.
Either way, you will need to test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to know if the tank is actually cycled.
Hey
duanes
,
I appreciate all the info and ideas. I am definitely going to be testing the water throughout the cycle. I have the API master test kit to use. I wouldn't put my fish in the tank without the water parameters being dialed in. There is a thread on the home page about cycling with ammonia that is quite interesting. I have also read to up the temp during cycling to about 84F. Does that sound about right? Also, how often do I do water changes during the cycle? Thanks again duanes.
duanes
,I appreciate all the info and ideas. I am definitely going to be testing the water throughout the cycle. I have the API master test kit to use. I wouldn't put my fish in the tank without the water parameters being dialed in. There is a thread on the home page about cycling with ammonia that is quite interesting. I have also read to up the temp during cycling to about 84F. Does that sound about right? Also, how often do I do water changes during the cycle? Thanks again duanes.
