what to cycle a qt tank

bdr · 01/25/2012, 04:24 PM

ive been waiting for my tank to cycle for three weeks and have decided to start qting a fish then if it hasnt cycled still do it the old way with a fish. So ive read to use a sponge from your dt but what if it hasnt cycled yet? Does just a tank of saltwater cycle?

Joe0813 · 01/25/2012, 04:26 PM

Im having the saaaame issue

awolusa · 01/25/2012, 04:30 PM

A tank of salt water does not need cycling. There isn't anything to cycle.

bdr · 01/25/2012, 04:35 PM

thats what i thought but in another thread i had it was suggested that the qt tank had to cycle so i was double checking

MuffsAbby · 01/25/2012, 04:49 PM

In order to cycle your QT, you need to add an ammonia source. You can either ghost feed the tank (flakes/pellets) or add a dead shrimp (the latter approach is not easy on the nose!).

Playa-1 · 01/25/2012, 04:49 PM

You could do it with daily water changes and ammonia binder. If the qt will not be medicated, then you could get a few pounds of liverock, that is already cured, and use it for the QT. The cured liverock will act as the biofilter in the QT (same concept as sponge filter). You could also just cycle the QT the same way as the DT and take your time. The ammonia, ph and O2 levels can be hard to keep under control in a QT, especially without a biofilter in place. I would proceed with caution.

Ron Reefman · 01/25/2012, 04:52 PM

I'm still running a 20g QT and no LR. I find I need to do a water change every 3 or 4 days when there is a light load in the tank, more often when there is a fish.

MuffsAbby · 01/25/2012, 04:57 PM

Well, I must be lucky! My 20g QT has been up and running for about 6 months, after cycling. I do a 10% WC every 2 weeks...never had ammonia or nitrite (after cycling), and nitrates stay below 10. I run a Marineland HOB with filter floss and biowheel. QT was initially cycled in 2 days with BioSpira (plus I keep spare floss in my DT).

bdr · 01/25/2012, 05:08 PM

i cant seem to get my display to start cycling so i was hoping i could just buy a fish put it in the qt tank for 6 weeks then put it in my display. i thought it was the dieoff in the rock and substrate that went through the cycle. i must be missing something here i thought a qt tank nothing in it other then maybe a piece of pipe for the fish to hide in and a hob filter? i didnt think it was the water that cycled. i only have dry rock which is pure white and a fair sized chunk of purple lr in my display to seed with so i dont have lr to put in the qt

DUPioneers · 01/25/2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdr

thats what i thought but in another thread i had it was suggested that the qt tank had to cycle so i was double checking

Okay - this is the way I understand it.

(experienced folks, feel free to correct me if I'm getting this wrong...)

What needs to cycle is the bio-filtration in the QT tank...if any.

Some folks don't do ANY bio-filtration in QT, just mechanical (poly floss)...and do TONS of water changes. This definitely works if you are diligent about the water changes, but requires lots of water vacuuming to get rid of uneaten food and fish poo. It also requires constant monitoring of the ammonia levels.

Another way to do this is to use some filter media that is already colonized with the beneficial bacteria and add it to your QT filtration. Sponge filters are popular for this because they are cheap and easy to use and can be easily colonized with the "good" bacteria by just throwing them into a cycled tank for a while. Then, you just set up the sponge filter with a powerhead and you're good to go. You'll still have to maintain some mechanical filtration and do water changes, just not as frequently. Also, the potential for ammonia spikes is reduced, because the "good" bacteria is already established.

If you are dealing with a display tank system that is uncycled, you may have to use the "change tons of water" method, here.

Whatever you do, I would, however, urge you to not get so frustrated that you chuck a fish into an uncycled display tank system. It is needlessly cruel to the fish.

Wait it out. As people much, much, much more experienced than I like to say...nothing good in this hobby happens quickly.

bdr · 01/25/2012, 05:27 PM

it almost looks like the test might be reading at .15 ammonia from the shrimp that has rotted away could that be my spike? the lr i have was out of the water for a whole 30 min from the nearest fish store and the rest of the rock was as clean as could be. Im only slightly frusterated not pulling my hair out!

seapug · 01/25/2012, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awolusa

A tank of salt water does not need cycling. There isn't anything to cycle.

Yes it does. The metabolism of the Fish will create ammonia, which will need to be processed through the usual nitrogen cycle.

Nitrifying bacteria are ubiquitous in nature so the tank will cycle to a certain extent without the addition of any live rock or ammonia source, but adding a live rock to the tank and letting it run for a few weeks before any fish or medications are added will guarantee you a healthy population of nitrifying bacteria in the filter and surfaces in the tank.

DUPioneers · 01/25/2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

[snip]

Nitrifying bacteria are ubiquitous in nature so the tank will cycle to a certain extent without the addition of any live rock or ammonia source, but adding a live rock to the tank and letting it run for a few weeks before any fish or medications are added will guarantee you a healthy population of nitrifying bacteria in the filter and surfaces in the tank.

Isn't an alternative to this to chuck some filter sponges into a cycled tank, allowing them to become colonized with the nitrifying bacteria, and then use the now colonized sponges in the QT as part of the filtration system?

I ask because I am not terribly interested in keeping a QT running at all times. I hope to use it when I have something to QT...and keep it dry when I don't.

seapug · 01/25/2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUPioneers

Isn't an alternative to this to chuck some filter sponges into a cycled tank, allowing them to become colonized with the nitrifying bacteria, and then use the now colonized sponges in the QT as part of the filtration system?

I ask because I am not terribly interested in keeping a QT running at all times. I hope to use it when I have something to QT...and keep it dry when I don't.

yep, that'll work too. Any nonliving "object" from an established system will work.

Playa-1 · 01/25/2012, 06:15 PM

Use a couple of raw shrimp to kick start the cycle in the DT. If you have cured liverock in the dt then you may not get an ammonia spike.

You will want surface area in the qt for the bacteria to colonize on. The filter sponge or hang on filter along with any other surfaces in the tank will work in the qt. In the qt you're just looking for enough bacteria to help process the ammonia. That along with regular water changes can make the qt experience much more bearable. Keep in mind that certain types of meds will wipe out the bacteria, so, if you're going to medicate then you may have to rely on more frequent water changes. I like to use the ammonia indicators in the qt to help keep an eye on things. It's a good idea to keep tabs on temp and ph too.

01/25/2012, 04:24 PM	#1
bdr Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: kingston ontario Posts: 375	what to cycle a qt tank ive been waiting for my tank to cycle for three weeks and have decided to start qting a fish then if it hasnt cycled still do it the old way with a fish. So ive read to use a sponge from your dt but what if it hasnt cycled yet? Does just a tank of saltwater cycle? __________________ 75g display, 40g breeder sump. 85 lbs lr 2 korillia 1050gph powerheads, vertex 100gpd rodi, brs media reactor water went in jan 3 12

01/25/2012, 04:26 PM	#2
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Im having the saaaame issue __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/25/2012, 04:35 PM	#4
bdr Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: kingston ontario Posts: 375	thats what i thought but in another thread i had it was suggested that the qt tank had to cycle so i was double checking __________________ 75g display, 40g breeder sump. 85 lbs lr 2 korillia 1050gph powerheads, vertex 100gpd rodi, brs media reactor water went in jan 3 12

01/25/2012, 04:49 PM	#5
MuffsAbby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 327	In order to cycle your QT, you need to add an ammonia source. You can either ghost feed the tank (flakes/pellets) or add a dead shrimp (the latter approach is not easy on the nose!). __________________ Susan Current Tank Info: 150g fish only DT, with 2 ocellaris clowns, flagfin angel, bangaii cardinal, flame hawk pair and lyretail anthias.

01/25/2012, 04:52 PM	#7
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I'm still running a 20g QT and no LR. I find I need to do a water change every 3 or 4 days when there is a light load in the tank, more often when there is a fish. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

01/25/2012, 04:30 PM	#3
awolusa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 48	A tank of salt water does not need cycling. There isn't anything to cycle.

01/25/2012, 04:49 PM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	You could do it with daily water changes and ammonia binder. If the qt will not be medicated, then you could get a few pounds of liverock, that is already cured, and use it for the QT. The cured liverock will act as the biofilter in the QT (same concept as sponge filter). You could also just cycle the QT the same way as the DT and take your time. The ammonia, ph and O2 levels can be hard to keep under control in a QT, especially without a biofilter in place. I would proceed with caution.

01/25/2012, 04:57 PM	#8
MuffsAbby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 327	Well, I must be lucky! My 20g QT has been up and running for about 6 months, after cycling. I do a 10% WC every 2 weeks...never had ammonia or nitrite (after cycling), and nitrates stay below 10. I run a Marineland HOB with filter floss and biowheel. QT was initially cycled in 2 days with BioSpira (plus I keep spare floss in my DT). __________________ Susan Current Tank Info: 150g fish only DT, with 2 ocellaris clowns, flagfin angel, bangaii cardinal, flame hawk pair and lyretail anthias.

01/25/2012, 05:08 PM	#9
bdr Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: kingston ontario Posts: 375	i cant seem to get my display to start cycling so i was hoping i could just buy a fish put it in the qt tank for 6 weeks then put it in my display. i thought it was the dieoff in the rock and substrate that went through the cycle. i must be missing something here i thought a qt tank nothing in it other then maybe a piece of pipe for the fish to hide in and a hob filter? i didnt think it was the water that cycled. i only have dry rock which is pure white and a fair sized chunk of purple lr in my display to seed with so i dont have lr to put in the qt __________________ 75g display, 40g breeder sump. 85 lbs lr 2 korillia 1050gph powerheads, vertex 100gpd rodi, brs media reactor water went in jan 3 12

01/25/2012, 05:27 PM	#11
bdr Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: kingston ontario Posts: 375	it almost looks like the test might be reading at .15 ammonia from the shrimp that has rotted away could that be my spike? the lr i have was out of the water for a whole 30 min from the nearest fish store and the rest of the rock was as clean as could be. Im only slightly frusterated not pulling my hair out! __________________ 75g display, 40g breeder sump. 85 lbs lr 2 korillia 1050gph powerheads, vertex 100gpd rodi, brs media reactor water went in jan 3 12

01/25/2012, 06:15 PM	#15
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Use a couple of raw shrimp to kick start the cycle in the DT. If you have cured liverock in the dt then you may not get an ammonia spike. You will want surface area in the qt for the bacteria to colonize on. The filter sponge or hang on filter along with any other surfaces in the tank will work in the qt. In the qt you're just looking for enough bacteria to help process the ammonia. That along with regular water changes can make the qt experience much more bearable. Keep in mind that certain types of meds will wipe out the bacteria, so, if you're going to medicate then you may have to rely on more frequent water changes. I like to use the ammonia indicators in the qt to help keep an eye on things. It's a good idea to keep tabs on temp and ph too.