I Just Have To Say This About Fishless Cycle And Rrd1952

[doresy]

Being a veteran of 4 years in the hobby of tropical fish, I am a good, part way through cycling a tank for the very first time. My very first and now established tank was done the hard (and bad) way.....ie fish straight in and a few deaths untill the tank sorted it's self out. (don't do this at home kids!!)

What I would like to say to all noobies is PLEASE read and follow the PINNED POST at the head of this forum compiled by rrd1957 giving an excellent insight to the art of Fishless Cycling.

I personally would thoroughly recommend the "add and wait" method which is what I am following as we speak Everything rrd1957 has written (if followed correctly) happens which is totally reassuring and great fun!

As I said, all the info is there so before you post the question "how do I cycle my tank" or " why are my fish dying" do yourself a favour (and your future fish) follow that pinned post and your hobby will be much more satisfying than just racing out and getting fish on day 2 and giving up by day 5.

From me..... A BIG THANK YOU TO rrd1952..

 

[stef_uk]

I couldn't agree more.

Reading that post and following it has probably saved me a fortune in both fish and on my water bill!

 

[Pennymom]

Yeppers! I just finished cycling a 5-gallon tank for a Betta. It was painless and actually a lot of fun. This morning, for the first time, both ammonia and nitrites were 0. Nitrates were 40+ so I'll do a major water change and go get my Betta guy tomorrow. As a matter of fact. all the pinned threads are worth reading and re-reading.

 

[Phishy25]

I too followed the same thread and my 260 litre tank has fully cycled in 3 weeks and 5 days! Many thanks for making it easy peasy!!!

 

[hedgehog]

I too wish to thank rrd1957 for his post. My 250L has cycled in 3 weeks and 2 days, and am off to buy a load of fhis tomrrow! Woohoo!!

 

[doresy]

I too wish to thank rrd1957 for his post. My 250L has cycled in 3 weeks and 2 days, and am off to buy a load of fhis tomrrow! Woohoo!!

Now now now .....don't spoil it! What are you going to do tomorrow That's better, you're going to buy a FEW fish (to start with)

Hey I'm only jelous I'm still at the nitrite spike stage

 

[hedgehog]

Now now now .....don't spoil it! What are you going to do tomorrow That's better, you're going to buy a FEW fish (to start with)

Hey I'm only jelous I'm still at the nitrite spike stage

Yeah, but if I don't buy enough then I'll lose a lot of the lovely bacteria that I've worked so hard to build up.

I'm sure I read somewhere on here that you should try to get to 75% stocking level after the fishless cycle had completed?

 

[doresy]

Now now now .....don't spoil it! What are you going to do tomorrow That's better, you're going to buy a FEW fish (to start with)

Hey I'm only jelous I'm still at the nitrite spike stage

Yeah, but if I don't buy enough then I'll lose a lot of the lovely bacteria that I've worked so hard to build up.

I'm sure I read somewhere on here that you should try to get to 75% stocking level after the fishless cycle had completed?

matter of opinion. too many fish at once = stress. bit of flake will keep bacteria fed as it rots.

 

[rdd1952]

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm glad people are finding it helpful.

As for adding all the fish at once, that is one of the biggest advantages of a fishless cycle. You can easily add 75% to 100% of your fish immediately. If you have cycled the tank with 4 to 6 ppm of ammonia, processing in 10 to 12 hours, there is more than enough bacteria to handle a full fish load (with the possible exception of messy fish like goldfish). If you only put in a small portion of the fish after you are finished, you will lose most of the bacteria. There is only enough bacteria present in a tank to handle the current bio-load. So if you completely cycle a 75 gallon tank and then only add 10 tetras and leave them alone in the tank for a week or 2, you will lose all the bacteria except what is needed to process the waste of the 10 tetras (along with any left over food). Then when you add more fish, the bacteria will have to catch up again but can usually double in about 24 hours.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

As for adding all the fish at once, that is one of the biggest advantages of a fishless cycle. You can easily add 75% to 100% of your fish immediately. If you have cycled the tank with 4 to 6 ppm of ammonia, processing in 10 to 12 hours, there is more than enough bacteria to handle a full fish load (with the possible exception of messy fish like goldfish). If you only put in a small portion of the fish after you are finished, you will lose most of the bacteria. There is only enough bacteria present in a tank to handle the current bio-load. So if you completely cycle a 75 gallon tank and then only add 10 tetras and leave them alone in the tank for a week or 2, you will lose all the bacteria except what is needed to process the waste of the 10 tetras (along with any left over food). Then when you add more fish, the bacteria will have to catch up again but can usually double in about 24 hours.

agreed, the only thing to bear in mind is that your tank is still not mature so any sensitive or delicate fish should be added later. but if a large proportion of your stocking is made up from hardy fish there is no reason why you can't add them at once.

 

[WILDER]

Good article rdd1952 I always put this article up for members who are willing to do a fishless cycle.

 

[doresy]

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm glad people are finding it helpful.

As for adding all the fish at once, that is one of the biggest advantages of a fishless cycle. You can easily add 75% to 100% of your fish immediately. If you have cycled the tank with 4 to 6 ppm of ammonia, processing in 10 to 12 hours, there is more than enough bacteria to handle a full fish load (with the possible exception of messy fish like goldfish). If you only put in a small portion of the fish after you are finished, you will lose most of the bacteria. There is only enough bacteria present in a tank to handle the current bio-load. So if you completely cycle a 75 gallon tank and then only add 10 tetras and leave them alone in the tank for a week or 2, you will lose all the bacteria except what is needed to process the waste of the 10 tetras (along with any left over food). Then when you add more fish, the bacteria will have to catch up again but can usually double in about 24 hours.

well yet more very useful info. everything you say makes a lot of sense and to be honest, just logical! I am still at the processing 6ppm of ammonia in 24 hours stage with 2ppm of nitrIte. Mind you I wouldn't even be there without your wonderful pinned post