My cycle.

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 02:42 PM

I accidently started my cycle with fish (i am returning today or tomorrow). Can i start "ghost feeding" already?

sponger0 · 07/15/2011, 02:52 PM

You may or may not have what it takes to start the cycle since you had put fish in there to cycle. Do you have any live rock in your system?

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

You may or may not have what it takes to start the cycle since you had put fish in there to cycle. Do you have any live rock in your system?

And...........How big is your tank, what kind of fish and how many?

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 03:57 PM

No i do not have live rock, yet. It is 75 and i had 6....3 died and were in there for a few days. they are damsels

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 04:12 PM

Take them back if you can keep them alive and understand you learned a valuable lesson. What are you ammonia readings? If it’s high do a 30% water change and check it again just to keep them alive. We all make mistakes just starting.

I’ll bet the person at the fish store told you that these were hardy fish and you could use them to start a cycle.

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 04:24 PM

I honestly dont know. I dont have a test kit yet. need to buy one when i return the fish.

sponger0 · 07/15/2011, 04:26 PM

Get some live rock and test kits. You may be able to get some live rock cheap from craigslist

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

I honestly dont know. I dont have a test kit yet. need to buy one when i return the fish.

Yes, pick up testing supplies. At least for amnonia, nitrites and nitrates, is a must for cycling a tank.

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Get some live rock and test kits. You may be able to get some live rock cheap from craigslist

Great advice but maybe the OP doesn't have the funds for that right now. We need to keep the fish alive.

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 04:59 PM

so i should keep the original fish? Or should i ghost feed as i said i would? (withouth fish of course)

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

so i should keep the original fish? Or should i ghost feed as i said i would? (withouth fish of course)

Do a at least to a 30% water change now. Something killed the others. Get those test kits with the exchange.

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 05:09 PM

The thing is, i was on a trip aswell when it happened.

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

The thing is, i was on a trip aswell when it happened.

Ok, but now you're back and have control.

BeanMachine · 07/15/2011, 05:19 PM

I would return the fish for some bacteria in a bottle and a dip strip test kit, like MB7 or similar. No need to cycle with fish as others have stated. The fact that they've pooped in your tank already means you've introduced food for bacteria to grow so its just going to take time.

You can also add a small table shrimp, but its not necessary to feed the tank daily.

I recommend the dip strip test kits for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate because they are quick and easy to use, and for your purpose all you want to see is the ammonia level arise, then to nitrite, than nitrate. Once you see the levels rise and fall back to zero, you are cycled.

BeanMachine · 07/15/2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

No i do not have live rock, yet. It is 75 and i had 6....3 died and were in there for a few days. they are damsels

This is important. Are there any other decorations or pieces that will allow the bacteria to attach and colonize? Anything in the aquarium will turn live by way of our definition of the term. Although, you wouldn't get any of the interesting life, tube worms, sponges, that you'd get with live rock that is harvested from the ocean.

Surface area is key here, which is why light pourous rock has more benefits than say more solid rock as more bacteria can colonize.

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 05:23 PM

Don't add anything ghost feeding as you call it, without testing.

sponger0 · 07/15/2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport507

Great advice but maybe the OP doesn't have the funds for that right now. We need to keep the fish alive.

Well he said he was returning the fish in his original post so that what Im basing it on. I can find rock locally through my local group or craigslist for $3/lb

hagar101 · 07/15/2011, 05:43 PM

I do have the bactieria in a bottle. I have been using it daily as directed. Ok. thanks. I still do have 30 pounds of rock in the tank aswell though. I found a good price for 45 lbs of live rock for $2 a pound. Locally. so i might look at that.

Sport507 · 07/15/2011, 08:59 PM

What ever you say hagar, as I said in an earlier post you are back now and in control!

07/15/2011, 02:42 PM	#1
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	My cycle. I accidently started my cycle with fish (i am returning today or tomorrow). Can i start "ghost feeding" already?

07/15/2011, 04:12 PM	#5
Sport507 ~Just a Farm Boy~ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,651	Take them back if you can keep them alive and understand you learned a valuable lesson. What are you ammonia readings? If it’s high do a 30% water change and check it again just to keep them alive. We all make mistakes just starting. I’ll bet the person at the fish store told you that these were hardy fish and you could use them to start a cycle. __________________ Sport If you do not test for it, DON'T dose it. Indiana INDMAS Member

07/15/2011, 05:19 PM	#14
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	I would return the fish for some bacteria in a bottle and a dip strip test kit, like MB7 or similar. No need to cycle with fish as others have stated. The fact that they've pooped in your tank already means you've introduced food for bacteria to grow so its just going to take time. You can also add a small table shrimp, but its not necessary to feed the tank daily. I recommend the dip strip test kits for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate because they are quick and easy to use, and for your purpose all you want to see is the ammonia level arise, then to nitrite, than nitrate. Once you see the levels rise and fall back to zero, you are cycled. __________________ 300 Gallon 72x36x27 AGE- 4x Ecotech XR30G5 Blue- AA PVC Hybrid Sump- Dual Synergy Shadow Boxes w Bean Animal- RO 220INT Elite- AquaMaxx cTech T3 CaRx- RD3 230- Apex- Tunze 6155, 6255 & 6150- MP40

07/15/2011, 05:23 PM	#16
Sport507 ~Just a Farm Boy~ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,651	Don't add anything ghost feeding as you call it, without testing. __________________ Sport If you do not test for it, DON'T dose it. Indiana INDMAS Member

07/15/2011, 08:59 PM	#19
Sport507 ~Just a Farm Boy~ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,651	What ever you say hagar, as I said in an earlier post you are back now and in control! __________________ Sport If you do not test for it, DON'T dose it. Indiana INDMAS Member

07/15/2011, 02:52 PM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	You may or may not have what it takes to start the cycle since you had put fish in there to cycle. Do you have any live rock in your system?

07/15/2011, 03:57 PM	#4
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	No i do not have live rock, yet. It is 75 and i had 6....3 died and were in there for a few days. they are damsels

07/15/2011, 04:24 PM	#6
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	I honestly dont know. I dont have a test kit yet. need to buy one when i return the fish.

07/15/2011, 04:26 PM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Get some live rock and test kits. You may be able to get some live rock cheap from craigslist

07/15/2011, 04:59 PM	#10
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	so i should keep the original fish? Or should i ghost feed as i said i would? (withouth fish of course)

07/15/2011, 05:09 PM	#12
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	The thing is, i was on a trip aswell when it happened.

07/15/2011, 05:43 PM	#18
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	I do have the bactieria in a bottle. I have been using it daily as directed. Ok. thanks. I still do have 30 pounds of rock in the tank aswell though. I found a good price for 45 lbs of live rock for $2 a pound. Locally. so i might look at that.

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