I'm forseeing a big problem

**Troxel** · 02-21-2012, 01:15 AM

I am currently doing a fish-in cycle in a 26 gallon tank w/ 3 corys, 6 neons, 5 bloodfin tetras, and 4 danios.
I leave for a week-long vacation in about a month and I'm pretty sure my tank will not be finished cycling by the time I have to leave.

I think I have several ideas involving an empty 20 gallon tank. Please tell me which one is the best:

1. Try to do a fishless cycle in tank #2 and move the fish there before I leave. I don't really like this one because I'm over-stocking tank #2 and stopping the cycle in tank #1.

2. Fishless cycle in tank 2, move some of the fish in there and keep some in tank #1.

3. Fishless cycle in tank #2 and move biomedia into tank #1.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-21-2012, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Troxel

3. Fishless cycle in tank #2 and move biomedia into tank #1.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

#3 is your winner.

As a side note keep a close eye on your corys in your 26 as they are not the best stock to include in a cycling tank but as long as you keep up with the WCs to keep your levels down they will be fine.

**Troxel** · 02-21-2012, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by 850R

#3 is your winner.

As a side note keep a close eye on your corys in your 26 as they are not the best stock to include in a cycling tank but as long as you keep up with the WCs to keep your levels down they will be fine.

I am keeping a very close eye on them. I'm doing 50-75 percent WC's daily to keep ammonia down.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-21-2012, 01:43 AM

Good to hear, Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

**Troxel** · 02-21-2012, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by 850R

Good to hear, Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

Thanks very much.

I'm running an AC70 on my 26 gallon, and I have a penguin 150 for my 20 gallon. My plan was to order two biobags that I use in my AC70 and put them in the penguin where the filters would be.
Good plan?

and...

What level ammonia should I aim to maintain during a fishless cycle? 3-4 ppm?

Thanks again

**Goes to 11!** · 02-21-2012, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by Troxel

Thanks very much.

I'm running an AC70 on my 26 gallon, and I have a penguin 150 for my 20 gallon. My plan was to order two biobags that I use in my AC70 and put them in the penguin where the filters would be.
Good plan? Yep, I like it. I do that with an extra AC70 biobag that I have too. I am not sure both will fit in there lol, You are planning on having something there for mechanical filtration right? Bio media really doesn't do any of that and it funks up quick without it.

and...

What level ammonia should I aim to maintain during a fishless cycle? See mommys answer below - I was referring to the wrong tank in this post and I edited it out.

Thanks again

You're very welcome.

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-21-2012, 02:06 AM

For a fishless cycle in a tank that size I would start with 2ppm ammonia, and once nitrites show up keep the ammonia at 1ppm.

**Troxel** · 02-21-2012, 02:08 AM

No, not my current tank. I'm talking about my backup 20 gallon fishless cycle.
Keep ammonia at 3-4pmm?

**Troxel** · 02-21-2012, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by mommy1

For a fishless cycle in a tank that size I would start with 2ppm ammonia, and once nitrites show up keep the ammonia at 1ppm.

Great, thanks.

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-21-2012, 02:52 AM

With all due respect.. Why on earth would you do a cycle with Neon Tetras? They are probably the worse and weakest to try to cycle with.
The danios can handle it- sadly they are tough enough typically to handle the horrible conditions. Not sure about corys but I think most bottom feeders are more sensitive.
I would suggest to do more research before adding fish from now on.
Good luck with- hope you don't lose any.