dredd0606 Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Hi everyone, I currently have a 55G tank that has been cycled with 2 fancy comets (not feeders) on the advice of my LFS. Now that I know about "fishless" cycling, I wish I hadn't used the comets, but oh well, live and learn. This tank is destined to be home to some 21 fish (8 x L. caeruleus, 12 x Ps. demasoni, 1 x Ancistrus spp.) My question is, how can I raise my bioload to take all 21 fish at once? (I live in Lethbridge, and Calgary trips do not happen often) Should I add 6 more comets (I have read that since comets are such dirty fish they represent 2-3 cichlids for bioload)? Should I pull the comets and start dosing with ammonia? Or should I just put all 21 fish in, and dose with stability? The tank is fully cycled, here are the numbers: NH3 - 0, NO2 - 0, NO3 - 5, pH - 7.8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Can you return the goldfish to the store and go the fishless cycling route? That would be the safest way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dredd0606 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Is that a good idea? I have about 2 weeks before I go to get my fish, and I wouldn't want to lose my bacteria now... If I do go this way, what dose of Ammonia should I start with? - Dredd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trabby Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Do you have any other tanks running? We used filter media from another tank to help cycle our tank. It worked beautifully. Once we added the fish we dosed faithfully with stability.Out of 12 fish we lost one, but not until anout 2 months after addidg them. Is that a good idea? I have about 2 weeks before I go to get my fish, and I wouldn't want to lose my bacteria now...If I do go this way, what dose of Ammonia should I start with? - Dredd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 If you return the comets now, make sure you feed your bacteria w. ammonia until you get your new fish. When you add your new fish, make sure that ammonia and nitrite are at 0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soliver Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 When i do a fishless cycle, i throw fish food in. Which breaks down releasing ammonia. You could always try that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dredd0606 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 jvision: do you know how much ammonia I need to put in daily to simulate 20 juvenile mbuna cichlids? Trabby: The tank is already cycled, but the bioload is only 2 comets right now...I need to increase to bioload to be ok for 21 fish by Feb 19. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Just look up fishless cycle online. I think it is recommended to add 5ppm ammonia when it becomes 0, add 1/2 that until nitrIte is 0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Jason is correct. A bacteria colony capable of dealing with 5ppm ammonia can deal with a huge biolode of fish. So return the comets, and monitor your ammonia, which should be at zero if your cycled. After a day, add enough ammonia to get a 5ppm reading, then see how long it takes to get to zero (should only take a day). Keep doing that till you get your new fish. Then you'll be good to just add them without worry! Boom :boom: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.