Cycling Controversy

[squeeker]

So, I know how to cycle a tank. I know there are two ways to go about doing it:
1) Using fish (watch the params!)
2) Fishless, using ammonia

I work at a pet store. A co-worker and I were discussing cycling. He insists it is possible to cycle a tank without using fish OR ammonia, but by merely filling the tank up with water and waiting. I don't buy this, because with no ammonia or fish wastes to cause ammonia, what would the bacteria be eating?

Just wanted to see if I am crazy, he is crazy, or he was just pulling my leg...

Thanks!

 

[heresmike]

IMO, he is either crazy or pulling your leg!

 

[luxum]

It's a widespread myth. Letting the tank run with no ammonia source does not establish the nitrogen cycle.

 

[David]

I agree. I don't see how that could possibly work. I think he's just confused between letting the tank run for a couple of days before adding fish, and cycling.

 

[squeeker]

See, this is the thing, though. We practically argued about it IN FRONT of a lady who I had been advising. I didn't think he would pull my leg in front of customers.

Plus, he has a LOT of fish knowledge. He breeds dwarf cichlids, and knows every fish's LATIN NAMES for crying out loud.

To back up his arguments, he said that if you use "cycle" by Hagen, and have live plants, it's possible. I still don't buy it, but I wanted to get some other opinions before finishing the story.

I don't see how live plants help. They absorb nitrates, if I am not mistaken. Also, I don't see how "cycle" is any good, as it is a non-refrigerated product, and even if it were added, and the bottle had all the food the bacteria needed for eternity included, I STILL don't see how that's possible... it's too good to be true.

 

[WheelmanCA19]

Well, live plants may help seed the tank with the good bacteria if the tanks at the LFS had fish in the tanks with the plants.

But, even then I wouldn't consider the tank cycled

 

[Bangin]

You can cycle a tank with live plants. Remember, many times snails accompany live plants. My tank cycled very quickly with high light and CO2. I'd say less than a week. Being the nut that I am, I didn't add fish for like another month! I was adding nitrates to the tank by that time.

It can be done!

 

[guppymonkey]

Plants use nitrate so I suppose that would be kinda like cycling. The product called "Cycle" can speed up the cycle, at least from my experience. I don't think running a tank with nothing in it would work though. You would have to feed the tank flakes so that something would be breaking down to produce the ammonia and nitrite though wouldn't you?

 

[Becca]

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Plus, he has a LOT of fish knowledge. He breeds dwarf cichlids, and knows every fish's LATIN NAMES for crying out loud.

To back up his arguments, he said that if you use "cycle" by Hagen, and have live plants, it's possible. I still don't buy it, but I wanted to get some other opinions before finishing the story.
<!--End Snip-->

1) Just because someone can read a book and memorize latin names doesn't really mean they completely understand how to keep fish.

2) He just defeated his own point. In your original post, he said that it was possible to cycle a tank by adding water and just letting it sit for a couple of days, then he later told you (as quoted) that it would be possible if he used "cycle" and had live plants. Just that alone involves more than just dumping water in a tank and leaving it go.

Shame on him for arguing valid information in front of a customer. The lady's probably confused now!!