Anything else I can seed with?

[logan89]

I don't have access (or time to go get) gravel/filter media from an established tank.

Is there anything else I can use (besides chemicals, Biospira, etc.) to help build beneficial bacteria faster?

Thanks alot,

-Logan

 

[paulthegreat]

If you can find Tetra Bactozym it will have your tank cycled in 24 hours.

 

[scuba_jez]

If you can find Tetra Bactozym it will have your tank cycled in 24 hours.

[snapback]875682[/snapback]​

i used a product called cycle, which everyone says is a major no no... but it worked fine for me, i added new gravel which started the cycle again and also 'cycle' and the tank was cycled in about 6 days. its perfect for fishless cycling because 'cycle' contains ammonia and nitrites in it already for the bacteria to eat in the bottle which goes into your tank. well i found my nitrates spiked to 1.2ppm to 2.4 ppm after i added it. its about 6 days later and im adding fish tomorrow! woo!

p.s check your ammonia levels in your tap water. I'm in Sydney, Australia and i have 0.6 ppm ammonia which killed my cycling fish in a day so i did a fishless cycle.

 

[benzonar]

If you can find Tetra Bactozym it will have your tank cycled in 24 hours.

[snapback]875682[/snapback]​

Does this really work?

I'm doing a fishless cycle and added the Bactozym to my tank to help it along with some used media.

I'm now on day 13

Ammonia is 0ppm (converting 4ppm in 24hrs)

Nitrite is about 4ppm and not budging.

Nitrates are shooting up (currently around 120ppm)

Hard to tell if the bactozym has had any effect, but it certainly didn't cycle in 24hrs.

 

[pseud]

Ben - do a big water change to get your nitrates down, then you'll probably see the nitrites start to fall. I don't know why, but it works...

 

[paulthegreat]

With Tetra bactozym you can put in fish after 24 hours, waiting longer will cause the benificial bacteria to starve to death. However put the fish in slowly 2-3 every 2-3 days, depending on the tank size this recomendation is based on my experience with a 30gal. No ammonia needed!!!

 

[benzonar]

I still don't trust any of the claims of the dried bacteria companies. The necessary bacteria cannot be stored in dried form.

Nitrospira isn't even sold in the UK as yet so I still fail to see how Bactozym makes any difference. They even claim that Bactozym contains no bacteria, it just aids creating an environment that will help bacteria to grow.

Carried out a 40% water change tonight to see if that helps the Nitrite levels.

I was hoping I could stock this weekend, but now that seems unlikely.

 

[paulthegreat]

If you have 0 ammonia and some nitrAte then you should have the benificial bacteria going try to add a few neons with the LFS water and see how it goes, if there are a few fish in there they will provide the bacts with the food they need to keep going HTH