The Puffer Forum

i just got an 80 gal tank and its fully set up now.. how can i cycle it? what is the fastest way? My lfs told me to buy some Black mollies to cycle the tank

What inhabitants do you plan for it?

3 gsp and i want black mollies

Then find out what SG the GSPs are in at the store (usually FW but you never know) & fishless cycle the tank at that SG:
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

Ok ... so correct me if I am wrong:

We have an 80 gal at 1.017SG
not showing signs of ammonia but traces of nitrite and nitrate; currently housing 3 black mollies

We also have a fully cycled 30 gal at an SG of 1.012
currently housing 3 GSPs

According to:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21282&p=225774&hili ... ia#p225774
" if you go higher than 1.007-1.010, you need to be slow and careful in that range. That is the area where the nitrification bacteria change over. Don't try to push too fast in that neighborhood - you might get metabolite issues."

both tanks should have beneficial BW bacteria in them.

It should be safe to move the filter, decor and substrate over and the fish and you should be fine.

I'd get a second opinion because the 1.012 tank is right on the cusp of the change over.

Sounds about right to me. I have only done FW and SW. No experience in BW except for what i have read on here but J-P does lots of research and has lots of experience

Reading yes .. research yes ... experience no. Thus asking for a 2nd opinion.

The problem with doing that is you put bacteria from a tank(1.012) into your 80 gal (1.017) the bacteria from the small tank or lower SG will die bc of the large jump(.005). You would basically kill that bacteria defeating the purpose. It would add ammonia but why now if you have mollies in there to do it. Bacteria in filter pads etc can only handle a .002 increase in SG per week. It allow a small amount to die/Adapt and reboost it colony every sg change

thus the ref
to According to:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21282&p=225774&hilit=+bacteria#p225774
" if you go higher than 1.007-1.010, you need to be slow and careful in that range. That is the area where the nitrification bacteria change over. Don't try to push too fast in that neighborhood - you might get metabolite issues."


if the 1.012 bacteria is BW established then it SHOULD be ok to transfer. The safety zone has already been established... in theory, because the .012 and the .017 are the same bacterial strain. +/- a couple points ... that = +/ - on the .012 tank is what is worry some because it is so close to the edge.

I don't think there is really a fast way. I used Commerical grade ammonia from Ace hardware and it took nearly 5 weeks to cycle my tank. I started with a sg of 1.010 because that is what I planned on keeping the tank at. You can try the instant cycle stuff, but I have had no luck with it shortening the cycle period.