Cycling Fish Tank

[Thisonepotato]

I am just cycling a new fresh water fish tank after shutting down an older tank. I am not using any of the old media.

All plants and ornaments are fake. The tank has 1 assasin snail (that I found in the gravel of the old tank, didnt even know I had him so he had to go in). I am about a week in to the cycle.

I have noticed really small, 0.5mm thin white things on the glass that seem to be moving. What are they? They are to small for my camera to focus on. They are not bubbles.

Any held appreciated.

Thanks

[LotusMartin]

[Turn7]

Are the plants and ornaments out of the old tank ? If so, they will bring the good bacteria required into the new tank - assuming they didnt go into the garage for a month before lol

Nice to see someone setting up a new tank and understanding about the need to cycle.

[Thisonepotato]

Turn 7, no everything is new except the snail.

I am experienced in that I have kept marine, cold and tropical before. Changed to an new tank as the old tank was a 120l cube and I didnt liek the shape wanted all new decorations and substrate so thought I would start from fresh. I have always had issues seeding a new tank from old tank media.

These white things are strange though. From 2ft away you would not see them, only when up close. I guess they are something to do with the cycle.

[PH_77]

Thisonepotato said:

I am just cycling a new fresh water fish tank after shutting down an older tank. I am not using any of the old media.

All plants and ornaments are fake. The tank has 1 assasin snail (that I found in the gravel of the old tank, didnt even know I had him so he had to go in). I am about a week in to the cycle.

I have noticed really small, 0.5mm thin white things on the glass that seem to be moving. What are they? They are to small for my camera to focus on. They are not bubbles.

Any held appreciated.

Thanks

They'll just be some little critters that possibly came in on the snail. I wouldn't worry. Some fish like to eat them. I've had similar before that I introduced via live plants, they will not be a problem.

[Caddyshack]

I think these critters proliferate when there is a lot of protein in the water, they are harmless and will die off or be eaten. What are you "feeding" the cycle with?

[Thisonepotato]

I am using fish flakes. Always cycled like that with good results. I did dump a full small bottle of safe start in which I have never do before.

[Caddyshack]

Thisonepotato said:

I am using fish flakes. Always cycled like that with good results. I did dump a full small bottle of safe start in which I have never do before.

I suspect the flakes are helping he critters.

I think safe start is generally used when you dump the first fish in? I used it when I put 2 big sting rays in a relatively new set up as they produce huge amounts of ammonia through breathing and defecation. I did not find any spikes when testing.

[Falconer]

Am I the only person to think WTF?

[Turn7]

Falconer said:

Am I the only person to think WTF?

Yep....

Whats your issue ?

Edited by Turn7 on Sunday 8th November 14:13

[Caddyshack]

Falconer said:

Am I the only person to think WTF?

Many people do not realise that you do not really keep fish, you keep beneficial bacteria in the water which eats the fish waste. Toxic ammonia gets turned in to a little less toxic nitrite which gets turned in to much less toxic nitrate. We then change 25% regularly to dilute and refresh.

We should not clean out filters and tanks with clean fresh and chlorinated water as it kills the bacteria. Many fish in the pet world would have had a much longer life if people had to prove they understood the nitrogen cycle before taking a fish home.

[Thisonepotato]

Caddyshack said:

Many people do not realise that you do not really keep fish, you keep beneficial bacteria in the water which eats the fish waste. Toxic ammonia gets turned in to a little less toxic nitrite which gets turned in to much less toxic nitrate. We then change 25% regularly to dilute and refresh.

We should not clean out filters and tanks with clean fresh and chlorinated water as it kills the bacteria. Many fish in the pet world would have had a much longer life if people had to prove they understood the nitrogen cycle before taking a fish home.

Yep you dont keep fish you keep water. the critters have cleared and my cycle is doing nicely.