is my qt tank ready???

[trillyen]

ok when i started up my qt tank i just added water from my existing tank that has been up for about 3 months, and ro/di water
its been up now for about a week, and i just threw a sponge in there tonight that had been in my reef tank for about a week
all i have for filtration is a biowheel, a ammonia sponge, a sock with carbon in it, and a few sponges like i said earlier
would it be ok to start putting in fish tomorrow????
thanks, and is there anything more i can do to the tank???
ohh, i also bought a ph stabilizer today that butterfly gurl recommended!!!

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by trillyen
ok when i started up my qt tank i just added water from my existing tank that has been up for about 3 months, and ro/di water
its been up now for about a week, and i just threw a sponge in there tonight that had been in my reef tank for about a week
all i have for filtration is a biowheel, a ammonia sponge, a sock with carbon in it, and a few sponges like i said earlier
would it be ok to start putting in fish tomorrow????
thanks, and is there anything more i can do to the tank???
ohh, i also bought a ph stabilizer today that butterfly gurl recommended!!!
unfortunately you are going to have to cycle the tank. Bacteria needed doesn't flow through the water column. If you add a fish now you are going to go through a mini cycle and will affect your fish. Get some shrimp from the local grocery and let them decay for 2-3 days. This will kick start your cycle.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Vpotts28
unfortunately you are going to have to cycle the tank. Bacteria needed doesn't flow through the water column. If you add a fish now you are going to go through a mini cycle and will affect your fish. Get some shrimp from the local grocery and let them decay for 2-3 days. This will kick start your cycle.
I agree. Pick up one raw shrimp from the grocery store. Let it sit in there until the ammonia starts to spike, then pull it out. If the ammonia spikes then drops and the nitrite does the same then you are cycled and ready to go. If it doesn't then wait for the nitrite to spike then fall. When the ammonia and nitrite both read zero then you are fine to add a fish.

 

[trillyen]

ok, sounds good ill do just that
Boy i was sure hoping i could add my sick fish this weekend!!!
should i leave all the carbon and sponges and bio whell and stuff in there for the raw shrimp, and the cycle???

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by trillyen
ok, sounds good ill do just that
Boy i was sure hoping i could add my sick fish this weekend!!!
should i leave all the carbon and sponges and bio whell and stuff in there for the raw shrimp, and the cycle???

I would definitely leave those in there. Unfortunatly with QT, they are quite bare. Should only have heater, powerhead, filter, and maybe some pvc pipe in there. No rock or sand. There won't be much surface area for the beneficial bacteria to live on, so the sponges will be a great place for them to colonize.

 

[trillyen]

alright i guess i can find some thing else to do for the time that was gonna take then
i think it has already cycled its self cause i used my tank water, and my ammonia was a little high this morning
thanks guys!!!

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by trillyen
alright i guess i can find some thing else to do for the time that was gonna take then
i think it has already cycled its self cause i used my tank water, and my ammonia was a little high this morning
thanks guys!!!
Your tank water being used does contribute to the cycle. Biological bacteria does not live in the water column itself, it colonizes on porous surfaces. Did you add the shrimp? If the ammonia spiked then take the shrimp out. Your tank is not cycled until your nitrites spike then reach zero.