cycling a QT/HT

[kaylshouse15]

Hiya, I have ich in my DT and now in the process of setting up another tank to treat them while leaving the DT fishless for 76 days. What's the best way for setting up the spare tank and how to cycle it ? it will be bare bottom with some PVC tubes for hiding spots. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[MERKEY]

There is a great write up on ich by Humblefish that you should definitely read, but the short version is...looks like you got the start.

Tank
Heater
Some sort of filter HOB
Air movement by power heard or even HOB filter works or stone. You want water movement and surface agitation.
PVC

Then get your meds stocked up. You may run into internal parasites or bacteria while in the QT and you want meds available. Also grab a copper test kit and a form of copper to treat in the HT for the ich and anything else. They will need to be treated for 14 days in copper then transferred to a fresh new tank for a remainder of the fallow period. Some want to use the TTM during this step to make sure you have done the best!

You dont want to mix meds so read up on what your treating before actually treating.

To start a quick cycle get a bottle of instant bac like Dr. Tim's one and only and pour it into the filter area and it will speed up cycle. Keep prime on hand for the ammonia spikes and be careful as that has a reaction with cuppermine which is a form of copper that's used for ich and velvet treatment. When these mixed together will be poisonous.

Search ich on this site and you will get a ton of good info and links!!

Good luck the fish will be much happier and you will learn a lot in this process!

 

[kaylshouse15]

There is a great write up on ich by Humblefish that you should definitely read, but the short version is...looks like you got the start.

Tank
Heater
Some sort of filter HOB
Air movement by power heard or even HOB filter works or stone. You want water movement and surface agitation.
PVC

Then get your meds stocked up. You may run into internal parasites or bacteria while in the QT and you want meds available. Also grab a copper test kit and a form of copper to treat in the HT for the ich and anything else. They will need to be treated for 14 days in copper then transferred to a fresh new tank for a remainder of the fallow period. Some want to use the TTM during this step to make sure you have done the best!

You dont want to mix meds so read up on what your treating before actually treating.

To start a quick cycle get a bottle of instant bac like Dr. Tim's one and only and pour it into the filter area and it will speed up cycle. Keep prime on hand for the ammonia spikes and be careful as that has a reaction with cuppermine which is a form of copper that's used for ich and velvet treatment. When these mixed together will be poisonous.

Search ich on this site and you will get a ton of good info and links!!

Good luck the fish will be much happier and you will learn a lot in this process!

thanks for your help I'm looking at going down the route of using chloroquine phosphate. I have a bottle of DR Tim's ammonia would that work for the cycle ?

 

[MERKEY]

thanks for your help I'm looking at going down the route of using chloroquine phosphate. I have a bottle of DR Tim's ammonia would that work for the cycle ?

That's used to start your cycle, Its ammonia so you would use that instead of adding food or a dead shrimp. You need the other stuff to add the bacteria to eat the ammonia.

There are a bunch of brands

 

[kaylshouse15]

That's used to start your cycle, Its ammonia so you would use that instead of adding food or a dead shrimp. You need the other stuff to add the bacteria to eat the ammonia.

There are a bunch of brands

ah I see, so i have bacteria as well so what would I add first then when would I add the other ?

 

[MERKEY]

ah I see, so i have bacteria as well so what would I add first then when would I add the other ?

Really either or but some are particular.

The bac needs it to eat so.....I'd start with ammonia and get to a low level. No higher than 2ppm unless the bottle has directions them definitely follow those! Then just add your bottle bac and let the fun begin.

 

[kaylshouse15]

Really either or but some are particular.

The bac needs it to eat so.....I'd start with ammonia and get to a low level. No higher than 2ppm unless the bottle has directions them definitely follow those! Then just add your bottle bac and let the fun begin.

thanks for your help