trout said :

for those of you setting up something new....if another member has a tank you trust, use their old exchange water to jump start your cycle....maybe not practical for a 300 gallon tank, but for more modest sizes, it will cut your cycle time by half...gold fish have feelings, too. :)

actually from all my experiences water carries little benefitial bacteria. if you really want to cycle a tank quickly use an old filterpad(that's not been dried) or gravel or anything bacteria could adhear itself to.

KrazeKajin said :
We were discussing a forum for large fish keepers. I wonder if that second picture qualifes.

a  monster fish forum would be awesome. if we end up going this route i garauntee i could get more members easily. there's more of us around this area than you think.

BuK said :

actually from all my experiences water carries little benefitial bacteria. if you really want to cycle a tank quickly use an old filterpad(that's not been dried) or gravel or anything bacteria could adhear itself to.

Justin (Buk) is right, the majority of the beneficial bacteria houses in the substrate and filter media, while the majority or things you don't want (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) all hang around in the water

hc8719 said :

The reef was beautiful btw, what happened to all those guys?

I sold everything, except for the skimmer.... still for sale. 

BuK said :

any anticipated stock list yet?

yoder's has quite a few africans at a great price, very easy to deal with too

C. Frontos so far and Peacocks

hc8719 said :

BuK said :

actually from all my experiences water carries little benefitial bacteria. if you really want to cycle a tank quickly use an old filterpad(that's not been dried) or gravel or anything bacteria could adhear itself to.

Justin (Buk) is right, the majority of the beneficial bacteria houses in the substrate and filter media, while the majority or things you don't want (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) all hang around in the water

i suppose in a round about way old tank water could help in the fact that it has the amonia to feel the bacteria but something solid  (prefferably filter media) and a few fish u don't care for a whole lot , to keep the amonia coming) is definitely the best. but yeah matt's got the right idea, why culture bacteria if u already have a large colony started on an old filter.

hc8719 said :

BuK said :

actually from all my experiences water carries little benefitial bacteria. if you really want to cycle a tank quickly use an old filterpad(that's not been dried) or gravel or anything bacteria could adhear itself to.

Justin (Buk) is right, the majority of the beneficial bacteria houses in the substrate and filter media, while the majority or things you don't want (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) all hang around in the water

I like to use established filter media AND as much used water as possible. 

Are you thinking of any particular variety  of Frontosa?

If you like burundi, there usually are some great finds at the MCA winter auction coming up in the end of january.

Otherwise there is a great breeder in Brighton, MI.

AJ :)

BuK said :

i suppose in a round about way old tank water could help in the fact that it has the amonia to feel the bacteria but something solid  (prefferably filter media) and a few fish u don't care for a whole lot , to keep the amonia coming) is definitely the best. but yeah matt's got the right idea, why culture bacteria if u already have a large colony started on an old filter.

Yes, but I think that by adding used water to a brand new tank, would greatly jumpstart the ammonia too quickly, rather than letting it accumulate. Now is maybe dumping ammonia in the water, rather than letting it accumulate over time is better for fish, I can't say