Fastest Way To Cycle A Tank

[Kyla]

ross did you mean to say "ammonia" or "nitrate"?

[Ash92]

I must agree w/ the use of Bio-spira as the fastest way to cycle a tank...I've used it 4 times. New tank, new water , new filter....discus went right in. One tank had slight nitrite the second day, but normally you wouldn't see nitrites on day 2. They were gone in a couple of days. Another tank was cloudy for 9 or 10 days but there was ZERO ammo. and nitrite readings
The extra sponges from other tanks work, and Lesley's method is probably the next best thing to Bio Spira. I'm not a big fan of the daily w/change while a tank is cycling, but that's just me. My own experience is it delays the cycling period..at least it seemed to, but I have no scientific proof either way.
Be bold...try the Bio Spira J.T.

Did u say u added discus straight away to new tank new filter and then it cycled?

[DYDave82]

Bio-wheel from a penguin Marineland filter. Great filter if you don't mind changing impellers every other month. I've rapidly cycled 5 large tanks with a good ol' bio wheel. That being said -- my house can't hold many more tanks so changing up the high maintenance marine lands soon with an eheim canisters. God bless green wheels of life.

[peewee1]

My $0.02....

Don't cycle the tank. It will cycle itself over time. Light fish load and WC WC WC WC WC. I haven't cycled a tank in over a year. The filters eventually catch up and you're good to go.
JMHO,
RandalB

An old thread but this is what I do as well. Twice anyway. I don't know why it works for me to fill the tank, bring it to the temperature that I desire, and then add the fish. Two years have passed for the fist time that I did this. Three weeks ago I set up a breeding tank. I let it cycle for three days then moved the breeding pair from the tank they were in to their new home. I must have forgiving water for this to work. I do water change on a normal schedule of 100% per week spread over 7 days. I am not suggesting that you try this I am simply saying that when I set up the first I did not know about cycling nor did I know about this forum. And it worked so why would I think any different the second time?

[Vinni Smith]

I usually have an extra sponge filter running somewhere.
However, some nitrites can creep in daily until more bacteria can grow, I have noticed.
It takes a while for the tank to become mature even with the old healthy sponge filter added.

After reading this thread I ordered some Bio-Spira Freshwater version today.
To be here tomorrow.
When the new acrylic tank gets here, I will put an existing sponge filter in it and I will add the Bio-Spira as well.
just to see how things go.