? on QT

[roberts]

I've read everthing on this section on setting up a qt, but I have a question.
To cycle the tank, it was suggested to put a shrimp and wait for it to get fuzzy. Are we talking about the little shrimp you put on your salad? How long does it take before you can introduce fish?

 

[wfd1008]

do you have a test kit?

 

[roberts]

yes

 

[wfd1008]

do tests until your ammonia is 0 and your nitrites are 0. your nitrates will be up, atleast then you know that your tank has cycled. usually about
3 to 5 weeks

 

[roberts]

so, start with starter fish, shrimp, LR, or all of the above?

 

[sepulatian]

If you do not have any lr in the tank then now is the time to add it. Buy uncured rock. You can cure it in the tank which will produce an ammonia source which will cycle your tank. The shrimp will not be needed. Do not add any live stock untill your tank has fully cycled.

 

[sepulatian]

You can cycle the qt with a raw shrimp. Add the shrimp then test the ammonia after a few days. When the ammonia reaches 1.0ppm remove the shrimp and let the tank finish cycling.

 

[al mc]

It may not be possible this time, but I was given this idea by someone on this forum (Beth..Acrylic?) Keep some of the ceramic filter media in a media bag inside your DT filter system. Then if you need to set up a QT fast you have bacteria within the 'ceramic bag' you can just drop it in the QT filter as it will already have the 'good' bacteria present within it you should be good to go.

 

[sepulatian]

That does work, but it has to be in there for awhile. I cycled a qt using three sponge filters from my display and another qt that were all about a year old (in tank) and still had a mini cycle. It was a very small cycle that only lasted two days though. I am sure they do not have to sit for that long, a month should do it. That is great though for people that do not have room to keep a qt set up all of the time.