Fishless cycling

[IdoA]

You can boil it but there is really no need to do so. Just wash and scrub it with tap water.

Alright!
Also can I use anti stress coat+ by API before starting the cycle?

Not sure if its a proper water conditioner solution..

 

[Essjay]

A dechlorinator should be used to treat tap water every time it is added to a tank, at the beginning and at every water change. At first any chlorine or chloramine in tap water will stop the good bacteria growing, then when there are fish in the tank it will harm them.

Stress coat is a dechlorinator, but it also contains aloe vera which is not good for fish long term. Use it until the bottle runs out then instead get some API Tap Water Conditioner which does not contain aloe vera. Not many shops sell it, so I get mine on-line.

 

[Rocky998]

No need to wash it with boiling water or conditioned water?

What kind of rock is it? Different rocks can do different things to water chemistry... If its dragon rock you will need to do a more deep clean

 

[IdoA]

A dechlorinator should be used to treat tap water every time it is added to a tank, at the beginning and at every water change. At first any chlorine or chloramine in tap water will stop the good bacteria growing, then when there are fish in the tank it will harm them.

Stress coat is a dechlorinator, but it also contains aloe vera which is not good for fish long term. Use it until the bottle runs out then instead get some API Tap Water Conditioner which does not contain aloe vera. Not many shops sell it, so I get mine on-line.

Will the alovera hurt the cycle?
Or am I safe to use it then start the dr tim cycle as planned?

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Yes, if you are going to add a rock, I recommend to add a few drops of white vinegar onto it. If it fizzes, it will make your water harder. If not, it does not affect water chemistry.

 

[Essjay]

Will the alovera hurt the cycle?
Or am I safe to use it then start the dr tim cycle as planned?

Aloe vera won't hurt the cycle. It coats fish's gills and over time this can be harmful, but the bacteria we want to grow won't be affected. Once you have fish, they won't be harmed while you finish the bottle, it's just when it's used all the time over years.

 

[IdoA]

Aloe vera won't hurt the cycle. It coats fish's gills and over time this can be harmful, but the bacteria we want to grow won't be affected. Once you have fish, they won't be harmed while you finish the bottle, it's just when it's used all the time over years.

Cool
Going to start. Just to clarify, Should I remove the black sponge in the filter before starting the cycle?

 

[Rocky998]

Cool
Going to start. Just to clarify, Should I remove the black sponge in the filter before starting the cycle?

Is there anything on there or special about the sponge that makes you think it shouldn't be in there? Bacteria will love growing on the sponge. A ton of bacteria resides inside the filter. The sponge provides lots of growing space

 

[Essjay]

I have found just one website about the filter in English and it says it does biological and mechanical filtration. it does not mention chemical filtration. So it's just plain sponge not a carbon impregnated sponge. Leave the sponge there. As Rocky said, you need something in the filter for the bacteria to grow on.

 

[IdoA]

I have found just one website about the filter in English and it says it does biological and mechanical filtration. it does not mention chemical filtration. So it's just plain sponge not a carbon impregnated sponge. Leave the sponge there. As Rocky said, you need something in the filter for the bacteria to grow on.

Thanks.

Now what about the fish?
You sure a honey gurami for the tank I have isnt okay? (Its 60cm wide)

 

[Essjay]

A tank that has a 60 x 30 cm base should be OK. There are two colours of honey gourami sold in shops and a third which is sold as a honey gourami but isn't.

The two colours are natural colour (male golden tan, female silvery beige) and yellow, often with an orangey tail end. Yellow is more common in shops than natural.
The one that isn't a honey gourami is sold as a red honey gourami or a red robin gourami. These are thick lipped gouramis or possibly a honey-thick lipped hybrid and they grow bigger than proper honeys. I would stick to one of the true honey varieties as they are smaller.

 

[IdoA]

A tank that has a 60 x 30 cm base should be OK. There are two colours of honey gourami sold in shops and a third which is sold as a honey gourami but isn't.

The two colours are natural colour (male golden tan, female silvery beige) and yellow, often with an orangey tail end. Yellow is more common in shops than natural.
The one that isn't a honey gourami is sold as a red honey gourami or a red robin gourami. These are thick lipped gouramis or possibly a honey-thick lipped hybrid and they grow bigger than proper honeys. I would stick to one of the true honey varieties as they are smaller.

My LFS said they will get the orangey honey guramis soon. So can I have the honey gurami as a center piece and have some neon tetras with it as I planned?

 

[Essjay]

Have we established your hardness yet? Some places have very hard water which isn't suitable for gouramis or neon tetras. Other regions have soft water which is suitable.
As your location is the UK tell us the name of your water company and we'll have a look.

 

[IdoA]

Not too sure.. Can I test the water hardness?

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Not too sure.. Can I test the water hardness?

Yes.