Comments on: 1.1.2. A Simple Way to Cycle https://tankstartguide.com Based on Science and Logic Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:17:03 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dave https://tankstartguide.com/1-1-2-a-simple-way-to-cycle/#comment-2398 Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:17:03 +0000 http://tankstartguide.com/?page_id=4525#comment-2398 In reply to Susan Beckett-Mitchell.

In reply to Susan …… For inoculate I recommend using as many as possible. Old media, garden soil AND vermicompost ALL together in a sock. Especially helpful for green water is the brown leaf litter gunk found in ponds and streams. https://tankstartguide.com/index.php/17-5-4-goldfish-care/ That green water is probably due to overfeeding.

]]> By: Susan Beckett-Mitchell https://tankstartguide.com/1-1-2-a-simple-way-to-cycle/#comment-2397 Sun, 02 Mar 2025 17:02:44 +0000 http://tankstartguide.com/?page_id=4525#comment-2397 I’m graduating my fantail goldfish to a bigger tank. She’s in a 10 gal (didn’t know what I was doing at first when my son asked for a goldfish for his bday 3 months ago) and it’s had green algae water for 6 weeks with no sign of going away. All other parameters are good and stable. I’m trying to decide if I should use the small tank filter media to seed the new 30 gal tank. The media is covered in green, very little brown media. Do you recommend using that or just using some garden soil or material from my vermicompost?

Btw- I love this site. It’s been my savior as I try to navigate this new hobby which has become more mine than my son’s 🙂 Thank you for all you do to keep us informed!

]]> By: Dave https://tankstartguide.com/1-1-2-a-simple-way-to-cycle/#comment-2396 Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:13:12 +0000 http://tankstartguide.com/?page_id=4525#comment-2396 In reply to Susan.

IN reply to Susan ….. What you are describing is very unusual. A couple of possibilities come to mind:

1, a dead decomposing fish
2, someone put in WAY too much food (any kids in the house?)
3, a faulty test kit
4, the filters were ALL thoroughly cleaned

In any case you are correct. Just recycle the tank.

]]> By: Susan https://tankstartguide.com/1-1-2-a-simple-way-to-cycle/#comment-2395 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:58:46 +0000 http://tankstartguide.com/?page_id=4525#comment-2395 Hello Dave
My 3 yrs old tank has had high ammonia reading 8 on the api test.. I did a 90% water change (I have my fish in another tub while I get this sorted out.). I have a canister and ugf and 1 sponge for filtration. I’m wondering could it be decomposing food? I have no plants, lots of aeration. Should I be looking at this like I’m cycling again and leave it? I’ve also put in some pond rocks and filter gunk from another tank.
Thanks again Susan

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