Neglected Fahaka!!!!

[river-7]

Hi;;All, would like some help with a quick cycle on tank.I am swapping out a cycled filter and some decorations and some plants and would like to know if there is anything else to quick cycle a tank.?? Reason i am taking a small and very neglected fahaka. At the shop were i go this little one=Whom i have named' Survivor', he's been there 2-plus months and at first the staff thought he would not make it and he almost didn't.But he's a little fighter. And i'm bringing him home and they gave him to me. No charge and of course he's taking up tank space there. I know he has ip's for a fact as they were trying to rid him of them but just putting prazi; in the water.And he's being fed just blood worms. and a few snails.Could you all tell me where to get some of those high protein worms-i think they are called red worms. As after i worm him i want to get him on a great diet. Boy what a diff; in mine and this little one.And they are both just babies.And about the same age and mine has grown at least 1-1/2 inches sinse i got him. and this baby will too with some good food.Sometimes i hate these shops as they just don't care fish are just fish to them and $$$'s. I know with all of your help this little Survivor will come along. PS; I have a friend coming today with some 'scweezing's from her filter-i don't know anything about that. Do any of you know ??Thanks to all in advance -ps i hope PP; see's this. river-7

[river-7]

Anyone??

[bertie 83]

If the filter is mature to a relative bio-load you will be good to go, if you are in any doubt add a bottle of safestart. For feeding use any good meaty food soaked in a good vitamin. Bloodworm, muscle, cockle, beef heart etc etc. avoid brine shrimp, ghost shrimp ( unless extremely well fed beforehand). Oh and shelled peas soaked with the meaty foods will likely go down well also.

[bertie 83]

Well done for saving him without lining their greedy pockets lol

[Flutter]

Put the squezings in your filter, they will help cycle your tank. Is the tank you got the filter media from similar to the original tank? Do you have a way to keep the original tank cycled?

Bertie mentioned some great foods. I know you're treating the water with the IP meds but you are best to soak his food in the medication, it won't help too much just in the water.

Do you have suitable tanks for both of them?

Best of luck with the fish

[defool89]

I quick cycled my tank with a thing called turbo start..a real fish store sould have some. Test your water before placing in the fahaka. My first fahaka was a sick one and I was sad when I couldn't rescue him so I know how you feel. Turbo start comes in a lil green bottle and its safe to use more than recommended, I belive up to 10x the amount. I cycled my tank fully in four days, now my second fahaka is doing great, actually he might be a lil over weight. Best of luck

[Pufferpunk]

I suggest Tetra's Safestart over any other product, for instant-cycling FW. Add it directly to the filter.

[bertie 83]

If the filter you are using is mature you will not need an instant cycle product or filter squeezings, you will just have to keep a close eye and possibly do an extra w/c or two whilst the bacteria builds up. Foods soaked in ip meds, vitamins and crushed garlic will soon fatten the little bugger up lol.

[river-7]

Flutter; I am not treating the water-i am soaking his food [shrimp] right now and i don't have him home until this water is good. I went to the shop and fed him and he ate 3-big pieces of shrimp soaked with prazi before,i went soaked for at least 3-hours and he ate and tomorrow i will go again to feed him. Instructions have been left for no one to feed him but me.He is very pitiful looking but i'm sure he will come along once i get him home. I think i will use tss because my filter is taking too long and i want to get him out of there. Some nut bar put salt in with him. Great !!! When i fed him today he was breathing very hard and the guy i know there just loves puffs and he flushed out the system to put all f/w in for him. So maybe that will help him a little. This little one is a real survivor i must say all that he has been threw and still hanging on.The only thing that is stopping me from bringing home is this tank. If i use tss will i add ammonia as i don't want to use any live fish.?? This question is for PP; And approx; how long will it take?? my stats now are ammonia-0-nitrite-0-nitrates-0- and thats the hard part is the trates-they are just taking too long. HELP someone!!!!Thanks to all who are helping this little survivor. river-7

[bertie 83]

You need to add the TSS at the same time as the fish. Good luck

[river-7]

Good News everyone- tank is cycled. Will wait until , Tues; just to make sure all is well in the tank showing 10-nitrates. Now will i feed it with ammonia until i get him.And do i do a water change before i put him in?? Thanks for all your help-river-7=And how much of a water change 50% or less as tss is in the tank thanks-

[Pufferpunk]

You are doing a fantastic job of rescuing him--even before you take him home!

[river-7]

PP; i had the guy that works there feed him again last night as i will feed twice a day until he comes around a little, then i will feed once a day.river-7 Can anyone tell me if i do a water change on the tss-tank. I used it a long time ago and just can't remember. It says not to do a water change for at least 4-weeks. It has been in the large tank for 3-weeks. I am doing 2-tanks with tss. the other tank[a little smaller] has been done with tss for about 1-1/2 weeks. And how much of a water change-and won't that throw me into a minnie cycle?? Thanks to all who are helping 'Survivor' river-7- i am feeding the tanks with ammonia.river-7

[Pufferpunk]

4 weeks??? The bacteria should be settled after 48 hours but if you're not adding the fish & only feeding with ammonia, then just wait until right before you add the fish & do 80%.

[river-7]

ok, PP: That is great lol-i thought that but wanted to make sure so i won't harm him when i put him in. Another question he is very shy-No humane contact other then someone throwing in some b/w's for him-so he don't have any humane contact-thus he's flipping all over the place-What is the best way to bring him home with out scaring him to death??? I brought mine home in a plastic container that was fairly big and i would not let them net him-So maybe the same way or doe's anyone know something different??? The time to my house is very short-approx; about 10-minutes.Sorry for all these questions but i know the experiance [sp] here is the best place to ask.I will update on tues; when i bring him home and i'll update today after i get home as i'm going to the shop to feed him. river-7