Advice on New Tank Cycling Start Up

[gimlid]

Greetings All,

Gimlid is back in the game after a multiple month tour of Northern BC and Alberta's industrial Hell Holes.

Special thanks to Dman and Bhuddarox for taking on all my stock.

I have had running tanks for so many years I cant even remember how I ever started cycling tanks.

I would love some input from members on how they start cycling tanks.

I am planning on keeping it simple and start out with a 20 gallon South American set up.

Filtration is whatever as I have lots of Hob and Cannisters to choose from

Lighting is budget but natural lighting is decent but only direct for 3 hours daily.

Planning on keeping a small group on BN and a few gentle SA cichlids. Perhaps a few low light plants also.

I would love any suggestion on start up methods that members have had success or failures with.

Thanks in advance to any who can assist.

[2wheelsx2]

Just use ammonia for a fishless cycle. Simple and no chance of contamination, since you're starting from scratch.

[ninez]

Directly from Eheim Quick and Easy Set-up & Maintenance Guide

TIP ON ADDING FISH:
Before adding any fish, dechlorinate your aquarium water and allow your EHEIM professional 3 UltraG canister filter to operate for 24 hours.
Start with 2-3 fish per gallons of water.
Gradually add more fish over a 6 week period.

Is it true that Eheim filters do cycle faster than other brand?
I thought I read about this somewhere before.

[sweetlowride]

+1 on the fishless cycling using ammonia, Grab some filter media from a friends tank to jump start your cycle.

And no the brand of filter has nothing to do with speed of cycle

[gklaw]

Welcome back Russ. Have to Google to figure out where PoCompton is

[onefishtwofish]

Welcome back Russ. Have to Google to figure out where PoCompton is

must be the ritzy side of poco.................welcome back
why not see if someone has an extra hob running and trade then no cycling. thats what i do.........the noisy from the water falling makes my company have to pee and it aggravates them to no end but buy having the extra ones running at all times i can do an impulse buy and come home and set up a new tank qt or
emergency fry tank.

especially being its only a 20g.

[gklaw]

Aaaah. Russ, you can come by to borrow one of my Fluval 3 plus if you like. Running in my goldfish tank now. Quick rinse and ready to go.

[Adz1]

Welcome back Russ.
If you have any of the XP,s i could help you out with some fish goo.....

[IceBlue]

Hi Russ,

Heres some pics of your old tank, looks better in real life. welcome back from the wonderful north.



http://s1080.photobucket.com/albums/...ecember%20180/

[Rastapus]

Stability by Seachem works. Eliminates new tank syndrome as long as it is used as directed. Otherwise I would use hardy starter fish as suggested. Not sure what contamination you would have with this method. Otherwise use some media from someone else's aquarium. The ammonia method will work as well but I have never been a fan as you need to dose consistently. Stability is a great easy product that really does work, particularly if you are a seasoned hobbyist and already fully understand the nitrogen cycle.