Fishless Cycling

[Joshwainwright]

Right, I've tried making this simpler to put on my wall, have I got it right:

1. Add ammonia to raise level to 4 to 5 ppm.
2. Test ammonia level daily.
3. When ammonia level drops to 1 ppm, test for nitrite. (nitrite is what is needed)
4. When ammonia level drops to 0 ppm, raise back up to 4 to 5 ppm.
5. Test nitrite level daily. (it should increase)
6. Continue raising ammonia levels to 4 to 5 ppm when they drop to 0 ppm.
7. Occasionally test for nitrate. (nitrate is present when nitrite is)
8. When ammonia level drops to 0ppm in 10 hours and nitrate is visible, stop adding ammonia.
9. Do a 75% to 90% water change.
10. Check everything.
11. Get fish.

 

[liamg1285]

thanks for this guide really helped and got me bk into the hobby after bad info from my lfs :thumbsup:

 

[yasinullah]

thanks rdd1952 for the methods, should be receiving my very first tank later this week (Juwel Rekord 600) and have got hold of some ammonia (from boots, london, white city, westfield branch - near household items) and ordered the API master test kit too

Now a couple of questions, will be using the juwel filter, should I not use the nitrate and carbon sponges in the filter for the cycling process (also is this nitrate removing sponge necessary post-cycling, as water changes remove nitrates anyway)
secondly, should I put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks in advance

 

[Rediahs]

thanks rdd1952 for the methods, should be receiving my very first tank later this week (Juwel Rekord 600) and have got hold of some ammonia (from boots, london, white city, westfield branch - near household items) and ordered the API master test kit too

Now a couple of questions, will be using the juwel filter, should I not use the nitrate and carbon sponges in the filter for the cycling process (also is this nitrate removing sponge necessary post-cycling, as water changes remove nitrates anyway)
secondly, should I put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks in advance

Carbon is harmless but doesn't provide any benefit in fishless cycling. It can be a little bad because bacteria grow on it, and then it crumbles and you need to throw it out... but generally not a big deal...

Not sure w hat the "nitrate sponge" is but it sounds bad, I wouldn't use it...

 

[graceofbass]

I'm wondering where the bacteria come from. If they are not present in the water from the beginning, how does adding ammonia suddenly create bacteria? I know it's there, and think this fishless cycling is wonderful, but I'm curious how the bacteria gets there when there aren't any fish.

 

[rdd1952]

They actually are in the water but in very small quantities. When we say that it does no good to add water from an existing tank to a new one, we mean that while there is bacteria in the water, there isnt' enough bacteria to really matter, probably no more than what would be in clean water from the tap and maybe even less than from the tap.

 

[yasinullah]

thanks rdd1952 for the methods, should be receiving my very first tank later this week (Juwel Rekord 600) and have got hold of some ammonia (from boots, london, white city, westfield branch - near household items) and ordered the API master test kit too

Now a couple of questions, will be using the juwel filter, should I not use the nitrate and carbon sponges in the filter for the cycling process (also is this nitrate removing sponge necessary post-cycling, as water changes remove nitrates anyway)
secondly, should I put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks in advance

Carbon is harmless but doesn't provide any benefit in fishless cycling. It can be a little bad because bacteria grow on it, and then it crumbles and you need to throw it out... but generally not a big deal...

Not sure w hat the "nitrate sponge" is but it sounds bad, I wouldn't use it...

thanks chrissi,
does anyone have any recommendations on whether I should put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks

 

[waterdrop]

thanks rdd1952 for the methods, should be receiving my very first tank later this week (Juwel Rekord 600) and have got hold of some ammonia (from boots, london, white city, westfield branch - near household items) and ordered the API master test kit too

Now a couple of questions, will be using the juwel filter, should I not use the nitrate and carbon sponges in the filter for the cycling process (also is this nitrate removing sponge necessary post-cycling, as water changes remove nitrates anyway)
secondly, should I put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks in advance

Carbon is harmless but doesn't provide any benefit in fishless cycling. It can be a little bad because bacteria grow on it, and then it crumbles and you need to throw it out... but generally not a big deal...

Not sure w hat the "nitrate sponge" is but it sounds bad, I wouldn't use it...

thanks chrissi,
does anyone have any recommendations on whether I should put in all my aquarium deco in before cycling (mopani wood, fake plants, rock deco)

thanks

Its really up to you. Its not likely to hurt the cycle. Cycling though often creates just the right environment for brown algae because of the ammonia (which is an algae trigger) and if people turn the tank lights on. This can get all over everything in the tank and be somewhat hard to get off. This does not happen to everyone by any means though.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. Its ideal to start your own thread in the beginner section for your questions.

 

[julsifer]

would my wenturi device on my fluval 3+ filter provide enough airation for my tank during cycling?

 

[waterdrop]

would my wenturi device on my fluval 3+ filter provide enough airation for my tank during cycling?

Yes, if it disturbs the surface and keeps water flowing past the surface it will be fine. An extra pump and air bubbles is not necessary but will not hurt. ~~waterdrop~~

 

[JohnRossDele]

http/www.chemist.net/PD/Pharmacy/Beauty/...tion-500ml.aspx ammonia supplement

 

[OneOnion]

So basically in the first method of fishless cycling you just heat up the tank and add the ammonia till its 4-5 ppm and then when it gets back to 0 you add more ammonia to 4-5 ppm and when it goes down again you keep adding more? How does the cycle end? Sorry I'm new at this and I don't really know how everything works.

 

[chuddy]

"Once the bacteria are able to process 4 or 5 ppm of ammonia back to zero ammonia and nitrite in about 10 to 12 hours. You are officially cycled."
taken from the end of the first method. pretty sure all the info is there. The 2 methods are listed after each other with names such as "add and wait method" you must be reading it wrong

 

[OneOnion]

"Once the bacteria are able to process 4 or 5 ppm of ammonia back to zero ammonia and nitrite in about 10 to 12 hours. You are officially cycled."
taken from the end of the first method. pretty sure all the info is there. The 2 methods are listed after each other with names such as "add and wait method" you must be reading it wrong

Ah, thanks. But I'm unclear about this: What happens when your nitrate/nitrite/ammonia levels start going up again(or will it ever go up again)?

 

[Quizzlefish]

Question; Are you ever supposed to change your filter media? A book I read advocated it, but wouldn't that kill bacteria, and by extension, fish?