Page 1 of 2

Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:19 Dec 2018 23:17
by Rwm
Hi! I’ve been cycling my tank by dropping some fish food flakes in my 2.5 gallon tank every 12 hours for about a week and a half now, per the instructions I found on this website for cycling your tank using fish food. I was just wondering, once I see algae growth and my tank is fully cycled, whether I can leave the fish food in there or if I should remove any leftover fish food before I put my Opae Ula in the tank. Thank you!

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:19 Dec 2018 23:21
by odin
When you see algae growing do a water test with some dip sticks or buy a liquid Master test kit and test the water for ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. If ammonia and Nitrites are zero and Nitrates are showing do a water change with fresh brackish water, remove the fish food and stop adding it and dump a batch of shrimp in it. A cycled tank can take lots and lots of shrimp strait away. :wink:

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:19 Dec 2018 23:23
by odin
Ps, I’d only add fish food once every few days to be honest as you are just wanting to introduce some ammonia so don’t go crazy with it lol.

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:20 Dec 2018 11:06
by Algae In Space
Rwm wrote: 19 Dec 2018 23:17 Hi! I’ve been cycling my tank by dropping some fish food flakes in my 2.5 gallon tank every 12 hours for about a week and a half now, per the instructions I found on this website for cycling your tank using fish food. I was just wondering, once I see algae growth and my tank is fully cycled, whether I can leave the fish food in there or if I should remove any leftover fish food before I put my Opae Ula in the tank. Thank you!

This is to get nice "cleaning bacteria" fast right??

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:20 Dec 2018 12:27
by Rwm
I don’t really know, Im just following the instructions on this website for cycling your tank using food :)

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:20 Dec 2018 13:26
by Algae In Space
Rwm wrote: 20 Dec 2018 12:27 I don’t really know, Im just following the instructions on this website for cycling your tank using food :)

:sidesmile:

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:20 Dec 2018 13:51
by Algae In Space
Rwm wrote: 20 Dec 2018 12:27 I don’t really know, Im just following the instructions on this website for cycling your tank using food :)

When you're done and the Opae are in the tank would you please consider participating in my OU-Questionnaire!? :grin3:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=372

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:20 Dec 2018 18:01
by odin
Rwm wrote:I don’t really know, Im just following the instructions on this website for cycling your tank using food :)
You cant go wrong if your tank is pre- cycled before you add life to it.

Re: Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:21 Dec 2018 07:47
by Vorteil
Let me throw this out there. Is it really necessary to cycle a tank? If you have no filtration and considering how hardy the opae are? The last 3 tanks I set up I never cycled. I never felt I needed to but that's my preference.

Cycling tank using fish food

PostPosted:21 Dec 2018 08:50
by odin
Vorteil wrote:Let me throw this out there. Is it really necessary to cycle a tank? If you have no filtration and considering how hardy the opae are? The last 3 tanks I set up I never cycled. I never felt I needed to but that's my preference.

Nope not at all but I offer advise on all ways to setup a tank, some folk want to have a fully cycled tank before introducing shrimp.. some want to add shrimp strait away and check for water quality and correct as they go along and some like to wait for algae to appear as an indicator it’s ok to then add shrimp as by then what little waste is produced doesn’t foul the water and cycles the tank slowly as they go along.

Tank size and stock amount is a huge factor when setting up your tank too.

There is no right or wrong way so long as you have healthy water so the shrimp don’t suffer. It’s all to easy to just say wait a week or two then add shrimp so it appeals to keepers to buy my shrimp and no care is needed and all is easy and takes care of its self like some sellers but I prefer to be honest :)



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro