I'm working on getting my new aquarium established and was wondering if anyone around campus has a parasite-free freshwater tank that i could grab a few gallons of water from to speed the nitrite cycle along in my tank. I'd really appreciate the help. All you would have to do to restore your water level is add dechlorinated tap water, and i'll provide the chemicals.

please let me know. i'll do all the work, and even fill your tank back up for you.

8/17/2007 3:49:12 PM

I might be able to help you out. I'll ask my roommate if she took apart the tank yet for move-in. Our water is freshwater but we put a small amount of salt in it to keep the fish healthy.

8/17/2007 4:51:32 PM

you're more than welcome to come get my water. PM for address.

8/17/2007 6:56:24 PM

From my experience and research I've learned that the water itself has little to no denitrifying bacteria. These bacteria grow on surfaces in the aquarium like substrate and decor. An established aquarium's water would be of little help to start a cycle as it wouldn't even have much ammonia and/or nitrite/nitrite to give the bacteria a substrate to act on. Therefore, I would suggest getting some substrate from an established aquarium to seed you new aquarium as opposed to water.

8/17/2007 10:30:41 PM

Or get some of their water and ask them to squeeze the filter media into it. Makes a mess of your tank for the first day, but then you should get a head start. You also get their waste, but a heavy dose of that bacteria is in the filter. I did that with many tank setups and from cichlids to golden spilos I was gravy.

[Edited on August 18, 2007 at 1:01 AM. Reason : blech]

8/18/2007 1:00:07 AM

I'm draining and moving my 44 gal on labor day weekend (putting in hardwood floors)
If you can wait till then you can have some. I'll siphon the gravel too so it should do the job.
My tank is very well established with healthy breeding convicts. If I have any babies at the time you're welcome to them as well. Mine just eat them.


don't get convicts unless you want ONLY convicts. 1 breeding pair will kill off everything else in the tank and breed repeatedly.

8/18/2007 1:23:51 AM

If all of the above offers fall through, I have plenty that anyone is welcome to.

Quote :

"From my experience and research I've learned that the water itself has little to no denitrifying bacteria. These bacteria grow on surfaces in the aquarium like substrate and decor. An established aquarium's water would be of little help to start a cycle as it wouldn't even have much ammonia and/or nitrite/nitrite to give the bacteria a substrate to act on. Therefore, I would suggest getting some substrate from an established aquarium to seed you new aquarium as opposed to water. "

Quote :

"Or get some of their water and ask them to squeeze the filter media into it. Makes a mess of your tank for the first day, but then you should get a head start. You also get their waste, but a heavy dose of that bacteria is in the filter."

Both of these methods will work better though.

8/19/2007 11:34:16 AM

hey thanks everyone for the offers, right after i posted that, a friend of mine let me use some of his bacterial substitute stuff, and it worked like a charm. the water isnt totally cleared out yet, but it looks worlds better after a long weekend.

in retrospect, one of the best ways to do that would've probably been to borrow someone's filter cartridge or other media for a couple days. in any event, thanks for the help and if anyone else needs something, please let me know.

8/19/2007 8:00:32 PM

go to petsmart and get the biojuice...it's got the bacteria in it b

8/19/2007 8:46:28 PM