Cycling Question

[Lisa_brown87]

Hi there,
yet another cycling question....
I read through the clycling thread and called my (new) LFS who came recomended and seem highly repretable to ask if they could provide me with all I need to cycle my tank.
The reply was:
You don't need much, just add a pinch of fish food to your water and leave it for 3 to 4 weeks.

Can anyone tell me ig they have done this beofre and why it is or isn't a better way to cycle than what is said in the cycling thread?

thanks

Lis
x

 

[evilchild]

yeah i kinda did that with my old tank, left it running for about a month, had no real problems. but i did start slowly, with the fish. 4 in leave it a month any four in.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

yeah i kinda did that with my old tank, left it running for about a month, had no real problems. but i did start slowly, with the fish. 4 in leave it a month any four in.

Ah ok. That sounds ok then. The tanks they have there in that shop are imaculate and the fish ALL look really healthy so I felt like I could trust himbut just wanetd some feedback on here.

Thanks

Lis
x

 

[Miss Wiggle]

the reason he told you to add fish food is that the fish food will break down and produce ammonia so basically you're doing the same thing as adding pure ammonia. however using the methods described in the pinned topic are more accurate because you can measure exactly what's going in and monitor it better. if it's monitored better than you can ensure that the tank is properly cycled before adding fish therefore you can better guarantee the safety of your fish when you do add them.

while adding fish food does work, it's probably best to add pure ammonia.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

the reason he told you to add fish food is that the fish food will break down and produce ammonia so basically you're doing the same thing as adding pure ammonia. however using the methods described in the pinned topic are more accurate because you can measure exactly what's going in and monitor it better. if it's monitored better than you can ensure that the tank is properly cycled before adding fish therefore you can better guarantee the safety of your fish when you do add them.

while adding fish food does work, it's probably best to add pure ammonia.

Oh I see. That makes sence. I would assume that the fish food process takes longer too? Because it has to build up the ammonium as opposed to just adding the ammonium.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yes, the fish food decomposes slowly reducing ammonia slowly, it's very difficult to accurately measure how much you're putting in, and adding too much (i believe over 8ppm if memory serves me correctly) will make your cycle stall and you have to start over. it's not very reliable really.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

yes, the fish food decomposes slowly reducing ammonia slowly, it's very difficult to accurately measure how much you're putting in, and adding too much (i believe over 8ppm if memory serves me correctly) will make your cycle stall and you have to start over. it's not very reliable really.

Yeh I see your point. The guy said "just a pinch"...but a pinch with my little fimgers or my other half's big fingers? And I guess different food might have different effects, etc

 

[Miss Wiggle]

spot on

 

[evilchild]

yeah i agree with miss wiggle, it would be best to use the ammonia method. unless you can clone some mature filter media (filter media from a tank that has been up and running for a while with fish in) then there is no need to do this.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

but what ever happens I have to turn the heat up in the tank for it to work, right?

 

[evilchild]

don't think so, just keep it as the normal temp. (24-28) i never did

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it is advised to turn the heat up a touch, it speeds up the life cycle of bacteria meaning the tank cycles faster.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

I work in the medical industry so just assumed that it was a general rule that bacteria grow faster with heat.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup, a little extra heat will help, within reason though, obviously cranking your tank up to 100oC probably won't do you much good.