When is your QT water ready for fish?

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

So after a horrible bacterial outbreak in one of my QT tanks it was time to shut it down. Had to bleach it all. Back up and running with sea water and added some of that startup bacteria in a bottle to the tank last week. Placed a sponge in the aquaclear that I kept in my display tank sump for 30 hours. How do you know when it is ready for fish?

melypr1985 · Aug 23, 2016

Well, if your intention is to cycle the tank completely before adding fish then you need to add an ammonia source to the tank and test to be sure your tank can process the ammonia quickly. Say 2ppm of ammonia can be processed down to nitrate in 24 hours and your ready for a fish or two.

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

I am pretty sure the bacteria in a bottle product (i forget name) has the ammonia in it, I used it a few times already but can't remember the name. So I should be good then after 5 days then for sure I assume?

Empress · Aug 23, 2016

The bacteria in a bottle has to be poured directly onto the sponge and not just poured into the water column. Then wait a hour or so before turning the filter on. You want the sponge to soak in the bacteria for a while. Then pour some more on every day for a week. After that and you'll be good to go. Worked perfect for me. Patience.

melypr1985 · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
I am pretty sure the bacteria in a bottle product (i forget name) has the ammonia in it, I used it a few times already but can't remember the name. So I should be good then after 5 days then for sure I assume?

I don't see how anybody can predict that. Unless you buy the refrigerated, active bacteria in a bottle it will take longer than that to cycle the tank properly. Probably a week or two. Even in a QT that is set up on the spot for emergencies, the tank still takes time to cycle completely. Water changes are needed regularly to keep ammonia in check until the added bacteria has time to populate enough to handle the bioload. It certainly needs a food source for it to breed. I've never heard of ammonia being added to the bottles of bacteria, but even that will be used up quickly and need to be replaced with something else in the tank to keep feeding the bacteria.

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

I am gonna look at the bottle as it is one of the start a cycle types that I have used in the past and took a few days and was then ready. Thanks in advance as I should have had all my information ready before asking!

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

BioPronto from Two Little Fishes! Just remembered

melypr1985 · Aug 23, 2016

Looks like any other similar product. I would still take your time with it. Rushing things is never a good idea. Use the bacteria (let it soak into the sponge for a couple hours before use) then test if it's ready by adding ammonia. Like I said, to know if your tank is ready it has to be able to process ammonia quickly down the ladder into nitrate. You wont know if it's doing that without adding ammonia to the tank.

Humblefish · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
BioPronto from Two Little Fishes! Just remembered

This is nitrifying bacteria in a bottle (no ammonia). 5 days might be enough seeding time, but the info I found said 10 days: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=25979

Directions for Use
Shake well. Add to a strong current stream for rapid distribution in the water. Turn off UV sterilizer and protein skimmer for three hours after dosing. For the initial dose, add one capful (5ml = 1 teaspoon) per 20 gallons. To seed biological filter media, add this amount daily for 10 days. Thereafter add 25ml per 33 gallons twice per month.

Two Little Fishies BioPronto Marine does not require refrigeration, but store in a cool, shaded area to maintain shelf life. Shelf life is one year from date of manufacture.

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

Thanks everyone! I am going to add some more today into the filter directly. I do have a batch of fish coming tomorrow so will do whatever is needed to secure a healthy qt system.

Humblefish · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
Thanks everyone! I am going to add some more today into the filter directly. I do have a batch of fish coming tomorrow so will do whatever is needed to secure a healthy qt system.

If your bio-media/sponge is in a HOB, turn off the filter for a few hours and pour BioPronto directly over the sponge. Give it time to "take up residence" inside the sponge before turning the filter back on. And as @melypr1985 suggested, dosing 2ppm pure ammonia is a great way to test that your bio-filter is working before adding fish.

MCooper · Aug 23, 2016

Humblefish said:
If your bio-media/sponge is in a HOB, turn off the filter for a few hours and pour BioPronto directly over the sponge. Give it time to "take up residence" inside the sponge before turning the filter back on. And as @melypr1985 suggested, dosing 2ppm pure ammonia is a great way to test that your bio-filter is working before adding fish.

If I don't have any ammonia am I in trouble or ride it out? This is what I have done a few times and thankfully no issue, but curious if any other option.
Punching myself wishing I posted this prior to ordering my fish!

Humblefish · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
If I don't have any ammonia am I in trouble or ride it out? This is what I have done a few times and thankfully no issue, but curious if any other option.
Punching myself wishing I posted this prior to ordering my fish!

You should be fine, just keep a close eye on ammonia. If you want to play it safe keep dosing BioPronto for a few days even after adding the fish. The downside is it would be best to delay dosing any meds (like CP) whilst dosing BioPronto.

Empress · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
If I don't have any ammonia am I in trouble or ride it out? This is what I have done a few times and thankfully no issue, but curious if any other option.
Punching myself wishing I posted this prior to ordering my fish!

Have plenty of makeup water ready for water changes. That will buy you some time if the ammonia does go up.

melypr1985 · Aug 23, 2016

DrCooper said:
If I don't have any ammonia am I in trouble or ride it out? This is what I have done a few times and thankfully no issue, but curious if any other option.
Punching myself wishing I posted this prior to ordering my fish!

An ammonia source can be anything from fish food to pure ammonia. But the others are right, just be ready to do some water changes when ammonia shows up and keep dosing the bacteria as the label suggests. They will be fine.