Instant Cycle?

[simplykayla76]

I went out and bought a small tank for my 3 platy fry that are 6 days old. I have heard you can transfer used media from a established tank and gravel with at least half of the water needed from a established tank and the rest new treated water to instantly cycle a tank.

I bought a 1.77 gallon for the fry with filter and heater. I took used gravel from the 10 gallon and cut a piece of sponge from another established tank and put it into the 1.77 gallon. i took half the water needed to fill the 1.77 gallon from the 10 gallon and 2 or 3 scoops of established gravel. then i used some bottles bb by tetra safestart and put into the 1.77 gallon. i waited a little bit and tested the 1.77 gallon. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 8.2 pH, and 10 ppm nitrates. Which to me tells me its cycled...

Any thoughts?

[Lady Hobbs]

Being a fry tank, I would have left it a barebottom tank and just stuck a plastic plant in there for a place for babies to hide. I also would not have used dirty water. Transferring over the filter was good enough.

[Barbeddragon]

What do you mean by waited a little bit? Same day or a few days later? From what I understand it really depends on your fish load in the original aquarium. After reading everything I really don't think there is a way to instantly cycle a tank. It will go through a mini cycle no matter what because the bio load is always different. I think the bacteria you need are more in the filter since that gets more aeration. Seeded gravel is good, but I would also be wary in a fry tank.

I really like Seachem Stability. Seems to have more of what you need and none of what you don't.

[simplykayla76]

Do i need to take the gravel out and change the water? I started it today thinking he media from a established tank would instant cycle or at least be safe enough to transfer the fry.

[Lady Hobbs]

With fry, they get feed very often so you want to keep the tank as clean as possible. A bare bottom will allow you to clean up the excess food from the bottom easier.

You didn't mention what kind of filter but a sponge filter is nice for fry tanks so the babies can't get sucked into the filter. If you have something different, you may want to put a nylon over the strainer area.

As long as you added a bit of seeded material from another filter, it's probably sufficient. Fry have a very small bioload. I crushed up fish flakes with a rolling pin on a piece of paper towel. It makes it almost into a powder and easy for babies to eat.

You can leave that gravel if you really want it there. It's just easier to keep the tank clean without it. Water change will be fine.

[Cliff]

I would disagree that you can not instantly cycle a tank. As practically all of the bacteria that you need is in the filter, as long as you transfer over a properly cycled filter with enough bacteria in it, you will be fine. As this is a fry tank, they will have a low bio-load and the bacteria will grow as the fish does.

IME fry tanks also need a lot of extra water changes due to uneaten food in the tank. I would suggest daily or every second day water changes of 10 to 20% and you should be fine

I have set-up 3 tanks by cycling the filter on another tank first and never had a single problem. I also do this everytime I set-up my QT tank and never had a problem there either. But it would be wise to keep an eye on your water parameters just ot be on the safe side.

[simplykayla76]

Thank you :)

[simplykayla76]

I will be doing a pwc in the fry tank tomorrow. Can I use a air line tube to siphon and suck out extra food ?