Seeking Bacterial Help in NJ

[bohomama]

Hi everyone, my name is Connie, and I am a new member here. (I introduced myself and gave a little back story in the introduction thread.) =)

I have just started up a 30 gallon tank, and it is currently undergoing a fishless cycle. I bought Tetra Safe Start to help the cycle along (I heard it was a great product) but I think I overdosed my ammonia and killed any potentially good bacteria that the Safe Start could provide. I am using the fish food method, which is pretty hard to calculate and measure. My ammonia was at zero for days, then all of a sudden, BOOM, it was off the charts!!! I was hesitant to do a water change because I know it really inhibits the process, but I felt I had no choice but to bring it back down to 2-4 ppm. I did less than a 20% change, or maybe right around there, and it seems to be about 4 ppm now.

I was wondering, since I don't have an already established tank (nor a fish store locally that I feel like I can trust), is there anyone in the central New Jersey/eastern PA area that could help me out with a little media from their tank with that good bacteria on it? My new fishies are waiting at the breeder for my tank to cycle, and they have agreed to hold for 3 weeks or so, so I am a little nervous that my tank may take too long to cycle! I may have been a little overly-optimistic about my tank cycling quickly...just wondering if anyone would be willing to help me out a little bit? I am in Bordentown, NJ, which is right outside of Trenton.

k...Thanks so much! =)

Connie

[Cincy Ranchu]

Hi everyone, my name is Connie, and I am a new member here. (I introduced myself and gave a little back story in the introduction thread.) =)

I have just started up a 30 gallon tank, and it is currently undergoing a fishless cycle. I bought Tetra Safe Start to help the cycle along (I heard it was a great product) but I think I overdosed my ammonia and killed any potentially good bacteria that the Safe Start could provide. I am using the fish food method, which is pretty hard to calculate and measure. My ammonia was at zero for days, then all of a sudden, BOOM, it was off the charts!!! I was hesitant to do a water change because I know it really inhibits the process, but I felt I had no choice but to bring it back down to 2-4 ppm. I did less than a 20% change, or maybe right around there, and it seems to be about 4 ppm now.

I was wondering, since I don't have an already established tank (nor a fish store locally that I feel like I can trust), is there anyone in the central New Jersey/eastern PA area that could help me out with a little media from their tank with that good bacteria on it? My new fishies are waiting at the breeder for my tank to cycle, and they have agreed to hold for 3 weeks or so, so I am a little nervous that my tank may take too long to cycle! I may have been a little overly-optimistic about my tank cycling quickly...just wondering if anyone would be willing to help me out a little bit? I am in Bordentown, NJ, which is right outside of Trenton.

k...Thanks so much! =)

Connie

Lots of disinformation on the web and in peoples mind about the nitrogen cycle. You must do a 30% water change weekly, I prefer 50% and when the tap water is warm enough 50% twice a week ( I have 80+ tanks).
First Nitrifiers are attached to stuff in a clear tank; the glass, the plants, the gravel etc. Change the water in a routine,for example every Friday night with one beer after work or in my case more than one beer. Water changes must be a habit, the nitrogen cycle will come along, first Nitorsomas and then Nitrobacter.
USe some dechlor and move ahead with a routine!
THX GH

[bohomama]

uuughh I know about the misinformation thing, that's why I thought joining a forum would be a great place to get accurate information. My head is literally about to burst with all the information I have absorbed on the cycling subject lately.....ouch!!!

K great, I will start doing a weekly water change!

WOW 80 tanks...!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond and help. =)