Cycling a QT tank with fish...not ideal..

[AmatuerAuer]

1 - Blue Tang
1 - Kole Tang
2 - Clowns
1 - Foxface
1 - Royal Gamma

50g tank
Air stone
Marine land penguin 200 with no carbon, just filter uncycled filter pads and the wheel.

Dosing Cupramine and Prazipro.

I had to set up this QT in a hurry. My tang came down with ich fast and I saw a spot on the kole Tang so I decided not to mess around and QT/treat the whole group.

Everyone is in the QT and the ich has subsided but I have the nitrogen cycle to contend with. I measure ammonia and copper daily (or twice daily) but am concerned that the ammonia spike will get me. Today ammonia measured around .25 maybe slightly under. I did a 30% water change yesterday and another 30% (15g) today. I am careful to treat the new water with cupramine to maintain the effective dose.

Aside from constant water changes any ideas that can help me weather the storm?

 

[Humblefish]

Do this: Remove the bio-wheel and place it in a small bucket with unmedicated SW.

Dose a bacteria in a bottle product (exs. Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability, Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria) in that bucket for 4-5 days to get the bacteria going in your wheel. Use an airstone or small powerhead for circulation in the bucket.

 

[AmatuerAuer]

Will the bacteria in a bottle not require a food source? Like detritus/decay?

Also, once established on the wheel won't the copper kill it? My guess is no because a QT tank can be cycled and that I'm kick starting in unmediated water to allow the process to move along more quickly..

Thanks HumbleFish

 

[Humblefish]

Will the bacteria in a bottle not require a food source? Like detritus/decay?

It will get that once you place the wheel back on the filter in QT with the fish.

Also, once established on the wheel won't the copper kill it? My guess is no because a QT tank can be cycled and that I'm kick starting in unmediated water to allow the process to move along more quickly..

Copper zaps most free floating bacteria, but once they become entrenched in bio-media (or rock/sand) the bacteria are better protected from the chemical. Some will still die, but the survivors will adapt to the presence of copper and begin to propagate again. Even antibiotics won't wipe out all the bacteria embedded in bio-media. Life is resilient.

 

[AmatuerAuer]

You think it will take 4-5 days to permeate the wheel?

 

[AmatuerAuer]

PS. I added slightly more API Quick Start than recommended. The remainder of the bottle went into the Penguin 200 filter compartment.

 

[Humblefish]

You think it will take 4-5 days to permeate the wheel?

Yes, the bacteria need to get settled in and begin to propagate/reproduce. Once their numbers are strong they are able to break down ammonia in QT.

 

[4FordFamily]

Giant water changes will keep ammonia down too if you have an ammonia badge. I had to cycle a 55 gal qt with 11 tangs and a few angels - was not ideal at all. Daily 80-90% water changes for 3 weeks, every other for one week, twice a week for one, and then weekly for the rest. Those days were no fun.

My mailman hated me, as I went through salt like you wouldn't believe

 

[AmatuerAuer]

Picked up an ammonia badge. All is well! Ow if only API copper tests were easy to read.....