Another Cycling question - should I seed?

[canmorefishgirl]

Tank is 2 weeks old. 1 week ago 4 danios were added. 2, 25% water changes including 1 today after the test that got these readings:

Ammonia 0
Nitrites holding steady at .3 or slightly less (for 10 days now)

I have a friend with a fish tank with now 4 feeder goldfish (long story, these are 2 year old feeder fish rescued from certain death and now thriving) and recently she got a pleco and 2 guppies.

About 4-5 weeks ago they had a minor ick outbreak that has been treated. The pleco has been keeping the tank very clean, though overall I would not say this is the cleanest tank on the planet, it's been doing quite well for 2 years. This is not a heated tank. We have different styles of filters; she has one with stacked 'bags' of 'stuff' and I have one with plastic side by side (one in front of the other actually) things.

I'm sure she'd let me take just about anything out of her tank temporarily - gravel, plants, decorations (I could borrow GI Joe!)... what should I take and how much? Will it help my cycle?

Thanks!

[Sharon]

Well, GIJoe won't be very helpful...LOL...but some of the filter media would definitely be great! The ick outbreak is a little worrisome...but it has been 4 or 5 weeks. I'd say it's probably safe...but wait for another opinion.:ssmile:

[Wild Turkey]

Any amount of media will help exponentially. Media will contain much, much more bacteria than the gravel or decor usually.

I wouldnt be that worried about the ich, a lot of people maintain that ich(and other parasites) are in most systems all the time, its stressful situations that weaken the fish enough to succumb to infection/invasion. I cant comment one way or the other with certainty, but its something to consider. Ich is also quite treatable usually.

[canmorefishgirl]

Ok - talked to my friend - she said she can go buy a new sponge and give me the old one. She has done this before.

BUT, i read another thread and it says to not do that so i'm super confused.

How are you supposed to take a sponge out of another tank without them needing to replace theirs?

Thanks so much

edit- she would still keep her old carbon or whatever the other stuff is in her filter - or am I and she better off if I only take half of her sponge? Then should she replace half her sponge or should i Give her sponge back... and after how long?

After I do whatever I have to do here, is my tank cycled?

[Wild Turkey]

Yes if you dont want to risk giving her tank a mini cycle, only take a small piece of her sponge (cut it off with scissors, put in tank water in a bag) and add it to your filter with some more media you have bought.

[canmorefishgirl]

Oh thank you so much Wild Turkey! I'll do it tonight (she lives across the lane!) :)

Then is my tank cycled and I can stock more?

[Wild Turkey]

Oh thank you so much Wild Turkey! I'll do it tonight (she lives across the lane!) :)

Then is my tank cycled and I can stock more?

Negative, Its gonna really, really speed up the process for you, but you will still likely see a rise in ammonia, followed by nitrite, followed by both dropping back to 0. Once you see the zeros and you have some nitrates, your tank is cycled. Wait approx 2 weeks and add a small bit more fish

[LethalResistanz]

I put a filter with used media from my established 29 gallon tank and all its water in my 55.(with fish)

My ammonia levels hung at .25 for about 3 days. then the nitrates started to rise and ammonia hit 0.

You can pretty much bypass the cycling with well used media, just make sure you test twice daily for ammonia spikes.

[canmorefishgirl]

and if I get ammo spikes then do a 25-30% water change?

[Wild Turkey]

and if I get ammo spikes then do a 25-30% water change?

Just monitor both nitrite and ammonia and keep them below 1.0ppm via water changes