Brothers New Tank

[dalios]

My little brother has got a fish tank as he see mine and now wanted one lol
 
He is only 13 so not any clue on what to do i will help him of course and show him the way.
 
Hes got a little 60L tank with heater filter etc few other bits and pieces, i will use my api test kit to test the water when needed.
 
I am going to give him a couple of my mollies to get him started but what is the best way for him to cycle the tank.
 
I did mine fish in cycle with tetra safestart which i wish i had done a fishless cycle but didnt know how till after when i joined here. My tank is still not cycled as yet using the safestart, my tank has been running for around 4weeks with 4mollies and 2platies 0 nitrates 0 nitrites 0.25 ammonia even after fairly big water changes.
 
I dont have the time to do it for him and hes too young to me messing about with ammonia adding it to his tank knowing when and how much.
So whats the best way for him to try cycle his tank, the way i did with safestart? or is there another way he could do this.
 
Many thanks

 

[sadguppy]

Do you know anyone with an established aquarium? The easiest way by far is to get some of their filter media and put it in the new filter, then run it for a week with fish food popped in each day. Test, if all is well add fish.

 

[dalios]

No that is the problem i know no one with a tropical tank apart from myself which my filters are not ready or cycled to be put in to his tank.
 
So not sure what the best way is as we cant do the fishless cycle adding ammonia.
 
Dont know if its worth trying the safestart again seeing how it goes or maybe trying the api version.

 

[sadguppy]

If you can't get hold of ammonia, you can do a less precise cycle using fish food or prawns, or you can do a very slow fish-in cycle adding no more than one fish a week which is the old (and much maligned) method.

Basically patience is key!

 

[Ch4rlie]

If you can't get hold of ammonia, you can do a less precise cycle using fish food or prawns, or you can do a very slow fish-in cycle adding no more than one fish a week which is the old (and much maligned) method.

Basically patience is key!

 
Would not recommend this, pretty messy and inaccurate.
 
There are basically two options for the easiest and fastest way is to do fishless cycle.
 
One is to get established media from LFS, some do sell or give away established media.
 
Second option would be to follow the fishless cycle article from this forum
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/
 
Here is also a link for possible ammonia sources as well as sources for bacteria starter for Fishless cycle process
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/427161-ammonia-and-bacteria-starter-sources/

 

[sadguppy]

... But in the absence of ammonia it 'will do'. I have cycled a tank this way and although I could not add fish all at once as with the ammonia method,bit did work and I didn't have any spikes or lose fish. Note that he says his brother cannot do the ammonia method for whatever reason.

 

[dalios]

... But in the absence of ammonia it 'will do'. I have cycled a tank this way and although I could not add fish all at once as with the ammonia method,bit did work and I didn't have any spikes or lose fish. Note that he says his brother cannot do the ammonia method for whatever reason.

thanks for the advice it will have to be a fish in cycle i believe using one of the bacteria sources they have to kick start the cycle.
 
I cannot do the ammonia method due too not having the time as i work and my brother cant as he is only young and dont want him messing about with ammonia, not something a kid should be playing with

 

[dazzadub]

Fish in cycle is fine as ling as you change 50% water every other day, some prime media from a pet shop will sort that tank very quickly and build the bacteria from the off

I've just done this on my new set up and it's sound as a pound.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Just one comment on this. I wouldn't personally put Mollies in a 60l tank as they get reasonably big for livebearers and there won't really be enough room for them. I'd go for guppies instead. They're more colourful and don't grow as big.

 

[sawickib]

Agreed and I also want to add bottled bacteria is absolutely worthless IMO