File :-(, x, )
Noob Wants to Cycle a Tank Anonymous
Friend of mine had a tank years ago, just got his hands on a 40-gal hex-front, and wants to make sure he does things right.

I'd go over and just help him with it, but he's states away. I haven't ever talked someone through it, and Google is turning up millions of different viewpoints on how to cycle a goddamn tank.

Can I get a consensus here? For a relative beginner with a 40gal tank, do you have either a walkthrough for him, or a link to a good one?

In b4 "you're the noob, aren't you", because I realize it sounds like I could be talking about myself. I've got a 55 long with four still-small shubunkins, for about eighteen months, I will upgrade as they grow, and they're doing just fine, thanks.

Pic related but not my tank. Wish I had a camera.
>> Anonymous
Put gravel, equipment, plants, water in. Dont use charcoal, dont use ammonia remover cartrodges - lots of sponge is good enough. Run for a day to see that everything is working. Put 1-2 small fish, feed them very lightly, measure ammonia and nitrites in the tank every day. In about a week your ammonia should be 0, nitrites ~ 0 as well. You are done. If you wanna put more fish - do not put them all at once, restrict yourself - otherwise you might have a crash if you suddenly introduce 20 barbs in one day.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
I've been fishkeeping for years, and, honestly, I'm not even sure how to cycle anymore because I just use Biospira. Works on a 10g, worked on my 55g.
>> Anonymous
>>282449
Appreciate it.

Any more tips are still welcome; I'll pass along the info.
>> Anonymous
>>282451
My local store doesn't have that. I can guess at what it does, but .. what is it?
>> Anonymous
>>282463
It seems to either instantly cycle or make the cycle much, much quicker. When setting up a tank, I've just added that, added half the fish, waited a few days and added the next half. You can probably order it online. I drove to That Fish Place for mine, and they also have a site that people frequently order fish supplies from.
>> Anonymous
>>282466
Also, don't believe other products that say they'll cycle it. Biospira is the only one I've ever heard of actually working.
>> Anonymous
Op here.

Bumping because even though this is (one of) the slowest board(s), I want to make sure he'll be able to view it later.

Tips still welcome.
>> Anonymous
>>282463

Its a packaged bacterial culture. It instantly seeds your tank with nitrifying bacteria instead of waiting for it to grow on its own. As other posters have already pointed out, its the only one that works.. don't buy anything else.

However, you may have problems finding it for a while. The local fish shop here is currently out of stock while they wait for the new stuff to come in. Biospira usually has to be refrigerated, but apparently they are changing the formula so that it is no longer required. The new stuff is due fairly soon, or so I have been told.

If he can't find any, see if he has any friends with tanks. If he can borrow a decoration or two or some gravel from a cycled tank, then it will speed up the process a lot.