How Do I Start The Cycle?

[fish nutter]

Hi, everyone i have recently started a new 250 liter / 55 gal tank and have added 10 rummy nose tetras and plants about two weeks ago, my liquid test kit shows the levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite are at 0ppm. I wanted to know what to do now... and if the cycle has even started with the fish.

 

[fatheadminnow]

It seems to me that since your tank is way understocked, that the plants are taking care of the ammonia being produced by the fish; thus, hindering the cycle.

I would recommend you return the fish you currently have and perform a fishless cycle: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

However, if you still want to go with a fish-in cycle, then I would say you need more fish, or take some plants out: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

I would highly recommend you perform a fishless cycle, as this would be much easier for you!

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

It seems to me that since your tank is way understocked, that the plants are taking care of the ammonia being produced by the fish; thus, hindering the cycle.

I would recommend you return the fish you currently have and perform a fishless cycle: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

However, if you still want to go with a fish-in cycle, then I would say you need more fish, or take some plants out: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

I would highly recommend you perform a fishless cycle, as this would be much easier for you!

-FHM

ah... well thanks for that. If i do return my tetras, do i need to take out my plants as well? and i have all-ready added bacteria (stress zyme) with the 30% water change i did last week and when i first filled up my tank around 3 weeks ago. Do i need to add a fresh lot of bacteria before i add the ammonia?

Thanks heaps

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your welcome!

Products that "claim" to cycle tanks, such as Stress Zyme, are no good and will have very little to no effect on your tank what so ever. It is just another way for companies to get your money.

If you return your fish and perform a fishless cycle, then it is recommended to remove the plants as well.

Nevermind on that article, it was a little different that I thought it was. (unless you did not see the URL)

Anyways

A fishless cycle requires the addition of ammonia, this is how the cycle starts and progresses. Well, if you have plants in the tank during the cycle, the plant will need light to grow, or just stay alive. So, without knowing what may happen, you add the ammonia to start the fishless cycle, and you have you lights on for the plants.

Well, Ammonia + Light = Algae.

And since you are going to have high/fluctuating levels of ammonia in the tank during the fishless cycle, you may also have a very large, uncontrolled breakout of algae.

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

Your welcome!

Products that "claim" to cycle tanks, such as Stress Zyme, are no good and will have very little to no effect on your tank what so ever. It is just another way for companies to get your money.

If you return your fish and perform a fishless cycle, then it is recommended to remove the plants as well.

Here is a good pinned article that will explain why plants are not a good idea to have in a fishless cycle tank:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/

-FHM

Sorry I'm a little confused... if I add ammonia wont it just stay at the same density and not do anything because I won't have any bacteria too eat the ammonia. Because "stress zyme doesn't do anything to help".

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your welcome!

Products that "claim" to cycle tanks, such as Stress Zyme, are no good and will have very little to no effect on your tank what so ever. It is just another way for companies to get your money.

If you return your fish and perform a fishless cycle, then it is recommended to remove the plants as well.

Here is a good pinned article that will explain why plants are not a good idea to have in a fishless cycle tank:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/

-FHM

Sorry I'm a little confused... if I add ammonia wont it just stay at the same density and not do anything because I won't have any bacteria too eat the ammonia. Because "stress zyme doesn't do anything to help".

The bacteria that we want to colonize in our tans are everywhere! They are in the very water we drink every day.

What we do in our tanks is provide a home(filter) for them to live, where there is a source of ammonia for them to live off of.

So, when ammonia is added to the tank, i.e fishless cycle, the bacteria immediately try to find a place that best suits their needs. This place is where there is a decent amount of water flow, so that the water will constantly carry ammonia to them. This place is usually the filter.

So when ammonia is present in a tank, there will be no doubt that the bacteria will begin to colonize in the filter to begin to process ammonia. Once the bacteria find their home in the filter, they begin to colonize in very large numbers to process the never ending supply of ammonia. For a fishless cycle it takes about 4-6 weeks to colonize enough bacteria to safely handle a full stocking of fish for your sized tank.

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

oh i understand now... lets see if i can take back the fish...

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds Good!

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

Sounds Good!

-FHM

I rang up the fish shop and they recommend getting more fish... will this work?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds Good!

-FHM

I rang up the fish shop and they recommend getting more fish... will this work?

The reason they said that is because they want your money. The more products they sell, the more they make.

I would not believe that your LFS would know what fishless cycling is, so I would not bring it up, unless you want to get a lecture about how "they" know everything there is to know about fish.

I wold return the fish, and do a fishless cycle.

-FHM

To answer your question...lol... yes it will work, but it will be A LOT of work for you if you want the fish to live.

A fish-in cycle, which is what you will be in if you decide to get more fish, is very inhumane for the fish. It puts the fish in a very stressful and life-threatening situation.

Ammonia is toxic to fish if it is over .25 ppm, it will cause permanent gill damage to the fish and can kill them; oh yeah, and it will shorten their life.

A fishless cycle is the best way, hands down, to cycle a tank.

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

Sounds Good!

-FHM

I rang up the fish shop and they recommend getting more fish... will this work?

The reason they said that is because they want your money. The more products they sell, the more they make.

I would not believe that your LFS would know what fishless cycling is, so I would not bring it up, unless you want to get a lecture about how "they" know everything there is to know about fish.

I wold return the fish, and do a fishless cycle.

-FHM

To answer your question...lol... yes it will work, but it will be A LOT of work for you if you want the fish to live.

A fish-in cycle, which is what you will be in if you decide to get more fish, is very inhumane for the fish. It puts the fish in a very stressful and life-threatening situation.

Ammonia is toxic to fish if it is over .25 ppm, it will cause permanent gill damage to the fish and can kill them; oh yeah, and it will shorten their life.

A fishless cycle is the best way, hands down, to cycle a tank.

-FHM

One problem.... i can't return fish . I guess i have to do a fish-in cycle

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sorry to hear that!

They won't even take them, and not give you any money?

-FHM

 

[fish nutter]

Sorry to hear that!

They won't even take them, and not give you any money?

-FHM

no they claim i could have hurt of diseased the fish

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fish nutter

It's OK. Just don't get nervous. A "fish in" cycle can be done successfully. It's only been in recent years that people have been doing the fishless cycling. It just takes patience and a lot of water changes. As we used to say, "A slow cycle is a safe cycle."

The best thing you can do right now is to find someone who has a cycled tank and ask him/her to give you some of their filter media. It will get the cycle off to a fast start since the established bacteria will quickly reproduce when they have a good supply of food.

Do you know anyone who has an established tank?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yup, MM (mature media) is the best way to kick start a cycling tank, as Inchworm has suggested!

-FHM