can you cycle a tank and add fish after 2 days?

[tsinkoy]

I was at my local LFS, H2O, the other day, and I was looking around for livestock and rocks for my cycling FOWLR. I was talking to one of the guys who works there (Kevin), and he asked me what type of tank I had. I told him that I have a 75G that I want to keep as FOWLR. I asked him if he had any live rocks, and he showed me where they were. I told him that my tank is still cycling, and I'm thinking of adding some more live rock just to add some more seeding material. I also told him that my tank's been cycling for almost three weeks.

After looking at some livestock, he commented that if I bought my live rock from him/his store, my tank would be completely cycled and in two days I'd be able to add fish.

Is that possible?

As for the LFS, they need to keep their tanks free of dead fish. I saw at least two dead fishes in the tanks when I visited.

 

[masterswimmer]

Wow, now an LFS with the magical elixir to expedite cycling to two days with only THEIR rock. Cool!!! What's next, the fountain of youth. EBAY baby. There's millions to be made from this one.

Now, sarcasm aside. It sounds like you doubted (rightfully so) the awful information given to you. Good job.

swimmer

 

[roncgizmo]

Now that's some funny stuff!

The only way you can get a new turn key set up is if you add only cured rock some filter media out a a mature tank and at least 50% water from a mature tank IMO.

But for me, I'll take the slow road, why change something if you know it works.

 

[Tito]

What about BioSpira for Saltwater? BioSpira is a pour in and add fish at the same time product. Intant cycle.

 

[masterswimmer]

What about BioSpira for Saltwater? BioSpira is a pour in and add fish at the same time product. Intant cycle.

I'm not aware of many true, long time hobbyists who promote BioSpira. Yes, I've heard about it, but truth be told, the natural way of cycling a tank has not changed due to adding bottled biological bacteria.

 

[marrone]

You can cycle a tank using some of the products that are out there. I've never used BioSpira so I can say if it works or not but I have used Nitrex for years and it does work. Using Nitrex I have setup tank and placed fish in right away without any problems or loses. Nitrex or for that matter BioSpira shouldn't be used to cycle reef tanks, as they turn ammonia and nitrites into nitrates which maybe fine for fish but not corals.

As for buying LR and cycling you tank in a couple of days, well if the LR is completely cured and has been in the person tank for a long time, then it's very possible to place it in your tank and have a small cycle or none at all. The LR would have all the biological filtration that you need, you would then be able to add fish right away without any problems.

 

[roncgizmo]

What about BioSpira for Saltwater? BioSpira is a pour in and add fish at the same time product. Intant cycle.

It might work I don't know... but I'm not willing to try it I've spent way to much money on snake oil in the past and when it comes to cycling I feel do it right or don't do it at all. short cuts have a way of biting you in the @$$ imo

 

[tsinkoy]

From a scientist's point of view, even if your LR is completely cured and has all the beneficial bacteria in it, when you place it into a larger tank with "new" water, the microorganisms will still be diluted out. That is, assuming that there's no die-off when you transport the live rock from one tank to another.

You can cycle a tank using some of the products that are out there. I've never used BioSpira so I can say if it works or not but I have used Nitrex for years and it does work. Using Nitrex I have setup tank and placed fish in right away without any problems or loses. Nitrex or for that matter BioSpira shouldn't be used to cycle reef tanks, as they turn ammonia and nitrites into nitrates which maybe fine for fish but not corals.

As for buying LR and cycling you tank in a couple of days, well if the LR is completely cured and has been in the person tank for a long time, then it's very possible to place it in your tank and have a small cycle or none at all. The LR would have all the biological filtration that you need, you would then be able to add fish right away without any problems.

 

[marrone]

If the LR is completely cured, and you place enough in the tank, and you don't have any dying off the LR should start to work and do its job. You see this in people tank that purchase LR from someone shutting down their tank. They show no signs of going through a cycle at all. Their tank is then able to handle the bio-load placed in it without a problem.

Now you make have some die off or the LR mayn't work to it's full potential right away, probably from some die off of bacteria, but it will have enough to support the tank.

 

[masterswimmer]

Bottom line, in this hobby the only thing that happens fast are problems. Good things take time. Allowing a tank to mature for a reef setup is the preferred method. Chemical additives might work. The problem with that is the operative words are 'MIGHT work'.

Take your time and go slow. The worlds natural reefs weren't created overnight.

swimmer

 

[Bahamian1999]

What I've experienced is once I started my cycling, after 2 weeks, I put 2 damsels in it to help cycling along. and it took approx. 5 more weeks for it to cycle completely. I've had this new tank set up for over a year and to date, the same damsels are still living along with other additions. Good luck!:flirt:

 

[tsinkoy]

It sounds like you doubted (rightfully so) the awful information given to you. Good job.

swimmer

Thanks swimmer. What he said was contrary to what I've been reading. He did suggest getting some Chromis (3 for $12) and seeing if they live.

I guess it would be killing two birds with one stone. If the chromis lives, I'll know that my tank's cycled, if they die, then their decomposition can help cycle the tank.

Right?

 

[Deanos]

If the chromis lives, I'll know that my tank's cycled, if they die, then their decomposition can help cycle the tank. Right?

 

[tsinkoy]

I guess not. :knockedou

I was just surprised that it was suggested. But it did sound feasible.

 

[Tito]

I strongly suggest that a good reading of BioSpira at the Marineland website be done. I can sense there is a lot to be learned about this product on this Forum.

In a nutshell - BioSPira is Live Bacteria that must be refrigerated by the retailer. It instantly cycles your tank when poured into the water column. Basically - you add fish and BioSpira at the same time. There is a Fresh Water and a Salt Water packet.

 

[EmilyT]

if you want the highest chance of your fish living, i would take it slowly.

 

[marrone]

I guess not. :knockedou

I was just surprised that it was suggested. But it did sound feasible.

It is feasible, and was the main way that people use to cycle their tanks. But it's cruel to the damsels that are used to cycle a tank. If the tanks isn't cycled you're going to have a high amount of ammonia and nitrites which are deadly to the fish, as opposed to nitrates which isn't.

By the way it does work but the amount of bacteria you built up from it is usually small. Once you start putting in more fish, or larger one, you're going to probably have a spike or a small cycle.

 

[kenske]

JMO:

If your tank has been cycling for 3 weeks and you are about to add some more cured live rocks, i don't think that it is out of line to suggest 3 chromis for a 75 gallon tank after 3 weeks of cycling. Cured live rock should not have much die off. Don't you need a source of ammonia to feed and encourage a higher population of beneficial bacteria? Wouldn't he addition fish would serve that purpose?(feeding, defecation, etc...)

The last two tanks i've setup, i have added fish and corals i had within 2 days (from the tank i was upgrading from). I did not lose any livestock. I still have them today (except for a pair of clowns i sold).Both tanks fully cycled in about 4 weeks. I was using some old tank water along with live sand and lots of live rock.

 

[Bob 1000]

You can do it sooner than that if you have a denitrifier to take good bacteria from every 4 hrs... I did it with a 20 gal...And it's still all good..2 month's later...Tank inhabitants include 2 crabs, a bunch of snails, and 2 firefish... Just to see how good the water really was... But in the process I almost exhausted the bacteria in my reactor....I stopped doing this every 4 hr. thing after 24hrs...
Is this reasonable????NO
Did it work for me????Yes
Was it a little extreme??? What in this hobby is not extreme??(that's the answer)LOL

 

[noodleman]

You can do it sooner than that if you have a denitrifier to take good bacteria from every 4 hrs... I did it with a 20 gal...And it's still all good..2 month's later...Tank inhabitants include 2 crabs, a bunch of snails, and 2 firefish... Just to see how good the water really was... But in the process I almost exhausted the bacteria in my reactor....I stopped doing this every 4 hr. thing after 24hrs...
Is this reasonable????NO
Did it work for me????Yes
Was it a little extreme??? What in this hobby is not extreme??(that's the answer)LOL

how would a denitrifier convert ammonia and nitrites?