My Tank Pics Are Up

Ok guys I created a folder and put a photo of my 75 gallon with My Boxer Boomer in front of the tank I will keep more pics coming as the tank progresses

Nice tank and cute dog!
Are you using filter media from your other tank to cycle this one?

I poured some water from my other tank in there!

ty yea boomer he is 5 yrs old lol

The water does not hold the bacteria needed to convert the ammonia. You need to take your filter media from your other tank and wash it in the new tanks water. What you are trying to do is get a decent amount of the brownish slimy gunk (your bacteria) into the new tank. Once you do this you will need to feed the bacteria to keep it alive. A pinch or 2 of flake food daily. This will rot and create ammonia for the bacteria to grow and multiply. If you don't have a ammonia nitrate and nitrite test kit get one liquid test kits are the best kind. You need to be patient while you cycle the tank and test every week or so till you get and ammonia spike(5.0 mg/l is the spike) This will go down and your nitrite or nitrate (help me out guys I get them confused) Will spike next. once those have both spiked and gone down to ok levels (0 would be good) Then you are in the clear to add fish without problems later on. Neglecting to do this causes fish deaths and/or shortening their life span considerably.

Or if you have tadpoles in a pond outside net a few(20-30 for this size tank) and throw them in and they will cycle it quicker. Feed the algae discs. The downfall of that method is you may have frogs in your house if you don't trade them out as they get big for smaller ones.

I hope that helped clarify the process.

I also added some cycling stuff that I cycled my last tank with and it is solid brown stuff it worked great with my last tank

Most of the 'quick cycle' stuff doesn't work. Did you have a constant of 0 ammonia in your other tank? Was the stuff refrigerated? If not I doubt that it was live bacteria.
I would say do a silent cycle with plants but I think cichlids and plants don't mix.
Add some filter slime to the new tank and feed it. At least wait till your ammonia spike is over. I know how bad it sucks to have an empty tank just sitting there wanting fish but trust me on this. You and your fish will thank me.
After the ammonia spike (or full cycle if your patient) is over do a 50% water change and add fish slowly. A fish or 2 a week is a good number on small tropical's. I'm not too sure how much waste cichlids produce, I'm sure its more than typical tropical's though because most cichlids are larger.
I'm not trying to fuss at you, so don't take it the wrong way, I am trying to help.

Ammonia-Nitrite-nitrate

I dont cycle. I use tank water from my other tanks. Cycling is a waste of time.

KMX none of the good bacteria live in the water At least use an old filter on a new tank or something

Oh, rusty that is another way to kick start it. Use your old filter on your new tank for few weeks. The bacteria will spread from there. It lives on nearly all solid surfaces in a tank, decor gravel, rock. You could also throw some of the other tanks decor in the new tank.

Thank you jk

I just use a old filter, some rocks that have some good bacteria and some of my tank water that is already established in another tank. Better?

Sometimes I just do the water and some rocks..... Ive never had fish die b/c of this.... I learn by doing not by others opinions.

Quote :

I learn by doing not by others opinions.

I do agree with this. That is how I came up with my tadpole method. They are free they create ammonia and you just swap them out when they start growing legs. Plus it is a quicker way to cycle than the several month method most use. But for goodness sakes don't use fish you paid good money for to cycle a tank.
If you are planning a new tank throw a piece of new filter cloth in the filter on a running tank and get you bacteria seed from there. It is not that hard to do it right even if you do find ways to cut corners on the process. I've got 3 new sponge filter stuck in my 20gal seeding right now for my cory fry. It looks like heck but seeding them keeps the fry alive and healthy. I also have a canister running on my 75gal that was bought for my 30gal I will be setting up once I build a stand.
Its all about the bacteria. KMX you have a clue about fish. You know what to do with ammonia spikes someone who is new to fishkeeping does not. Teach them how to do it right and they can find their own way from there.