FishProfiles.com Message Forums

i just got 12 zebra danios to cycle my 2 tanks a 10 and a thirty, i was told i sohudl cycle the thirty firs t with both fitler then seed the 10 then add 2 into 10, theyu are small lik 1/2 - 1 inch , the 30 not set up tonight so theyre temporarily in a 10 till tmorrow, also one of thel title zebras coudltn swim with current shoudl i just leaves the fitler off? and for the 30 wont the current be stong with 2 fitlers or only aorudn the filters, Or sohudl i jsut leave them in the 10 and let that cycle and jsut leaves fitler off



Last edited by importfan878 at 07-Sep-2005 21:22

I know your in a panic, but can you post with proper sentence structure. It is so much easier to read.

Here is what I would have done. Bought some test kits and got some pure ammonia and done fishless cycling.

12 danios in a ten or even a thirty is going to cause a big ammonia spike right away. This could possilbe posion the fish. I would try to return some of them. If you can't return some I would put 8 in the 30 gal and 4 four in the 10 gallon. There is no need to cycle one tank a time. It would take longer to cycle both tanks. Do you have any other tanks or a freinds tank you get some bacteria from. Also try some biological starter additive such as NEW AND IMPROVED CYCLED or BIOSPIRA.

Shutting off filter would be detrimental to the cycling process and fish. With out water flow and oxygenated water, the little of what bacteria there is in the filter would just die. You should never shut off filter longer you have to and even then put the media in the tank if needed. It is believed the bacteria, depending on what information you have, can start to die off with 5 minute to a hour or two.

Last edited by openwater at 07-Sep-2005 21:34

Danios should be able to keep up with a lot of current. They are minnows after all. Anyways, just run the filter you want to be on the 10G permanently on the 10 now. Put the Filter that's supposed to go on the 30G permanently on the 30. After you set up the 30G, you can put the 10G filter on the 30G (I assume the 10G is already cycled, and the 30 is not) for 3ish weeks to help the 30G cycle. If you plan on continuing the use of the 10G, this is not advised, as the 10G will be filterless for a while. Instead you can use some already cycled gravel from the 10 and put it in nylon netting in the filter of the 30G or somewhere near the filter of the 30G.

Edit: oops, neither are cycled! errm... 4 danios in a 10 should be able to cycle the tank fine, and 8 in the 30 would be alright. However, I wouldn't recommend housing all of them in the 10G for any extended amount of time, that would be bad.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 07-Sep-2005 21:31

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

both uncycled ill make sure i do a water change in morning or shouldnt i, also i coudl tell it coudltn swim agiant current it is less then 1/2 inch and was swimming but staying in one place


Last edited by importfan878 at 07-Sep-2005 21:38

I would spend the time setting up the 30 instead of a water change. Water changes usually only set back the cycle.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

well you don't what too many fish to cycle a tank cause IMO it defetes the purpuse of cycling. in my understanding you only have few fish so the amonia won't rise to a toxic level if you have too many cycling fish the ammonia will 'burst out' too quikly and cause problems.
remember this is just my opinion on the matter

Do you have testkits for testing water?

yea a master test kit, i dotn have tiem to set up tank in morning, I have school, will they be okay a day all jammed in one ten uncycle without filtration, but if they will dye ill get up at 5i n morning


Last edited by importfan878 at 07-Sep-2005 21:41

Ive said it once- fishless cycling, and ill say it again- FISHLESS CYCLING.

Now youre lumped with a potential distater. Now all you can do is try and boost the filter with bacteria to speed things up and monitor nitrite and ammonia with a test kit daily. Chances are youll be making water changes to avoid the ammonia killing the fish even if it does slow down the maturation of the filter, if you want to save the fish you might not have a choice, depends on the readings from the test kit.

Make sure you have decent water conditioners and get the temperature of the water for the changes as close as possible to avoid shocking the fish and minimising the impact of the changes. Make sure you provide as much oxygenation as possible in the meantime as the ammonia will probably damage the gills of your fish, and it will help remove a few toxins. Some carbon in the filter might help a bit.

Swapping the fish around between the tank will do nothing for them either , except stress them witless.
Youve got 14 to maybe 35 days of watching those fish and testing the water regularly. Youre in for the long haul, and the worries you have now will persist for weeks. No point in panicking about it. Turning the filter off achieves nothing except killing the few bacteria you may already have, it will just slow the maturation process down.Move the fish into the bigger tank where the higher volume of water will help limit the concentration of ammonia,and dont feed the fish much to cut down on waste.

If theyre gonna die tonight then theyll die, because you have no options that will improve their chances available to you right now.Your fish are between a rock and a hard place.If youre gonna keep them get on that bigger tank and get it set up asap.

A wise man might give the fish back to where they came from,at least in a shop tank there will be a certain water quality. Cut your losses , mature the tank and then try again.

Money vs Life. Your call.



Last edited by longhairedgit at 07-Sep-2005 22:11

Swapping the fish around between the tank will do nothing for them either , except stress them witless.....Move the fish into the bigger tank where the higher volume of water will help limit the concentration of ammonia,and dont feed the fish much to cut down on waste

I don't think we are talking about swapping them around?constantly? I think he wants to cycle both tanks at a time. And was unforuante he wasn't prepared when he bought his fish.

You have get that 30 gallon setup as early as possible and move some of those fish from the 10 gallon. Leave 4 four in the 10 gallon. If you leave less than four the dominate fish will pick,nip on the others to much.

The carbon won't affect the ammonia to much. However, if you have some zeolite it may reduce the amount of ammonia incase it does reach lethal levels. Remember to aerate as much as possible

If theyre gonna die tonight then theyll die, because you have no options that will improve their chances available to you right now

You could put eight in the 30 gallon tonite. That would help. Also test kits to monitor water quality and a water change might help. Can you test for ammonia? If you feel that ammonia posioning would be a problem then do a water change of 50% in that 10 gallon.