cycling with fish food

[wesa]

I have a ten gallon tank that's been set up for about 5 days now. To cycle it i've been putting flake food in there.

I'd like any tips from anyone who's tried this method. Like how long it usually takes, etc.

 

[AquaUK]

This is the method i use to cycle my tanks and works very well average time is between 5 - 10 days

 

[wesa]

is that if you only put in a few flakes once a day like i'm doing?

 

[kribs mate]

This is the method i use to cycle my tanks and works very well average time is between 5 - 10 days

I'm sorry but there is no way you can cycle a tank in 5-10 days by adding food alone to a tank.... NO WAY.

it would take that long for the food to break down into ammonia.
I DO NOT BELIEVE YOUR TANK HAS CYCLED .

this is completely missleasing information to give to newbies. how many people are going to believe that...hopefully not many now but that was porentially very dangerous.

 

[AquaUK]

i will offer my apoligies if this has mis lead I should have added that this method is used in conjection with seeded gravel from other aquariums

 

[EX-AmP]

get gravel from a used tank or a used filter pad

 

[heresmike]

This just seems like an inefficient way to cycle since it takes so long for the food to break down into ammonia. Why not just use pure ammonia?

Click here for info on cycling with ammonia

 

[AquaUK]

I have always used the used gravel and fish food method and never used the adding ammonia method.

But always keen to try something different this could be a test for the next tank.

By the way i have been keeping fish for 15 years now and my stock includes


Discus
Oscars
Mbuna
General Community
Koi Carp

And now starting to plan a 6x2x2 reef.


Of course for all the wise cracks out there all these fish are in seperate tanks (or ponds)!!!!!!!