OK i think im ready

[MNfishy]

Ok so im trying to start a fishless cycle heres what i have now....
- 10 Gallon tank with gravel, 2 plastic plants, a whisper power filter 10, a 50 watt submersible aquarium heater, and a water testing kit, i have been running the filter for 2 days now.
Heres what i need to know....
- Where i can get pure ammonia
- What temp i should have the heater at for 3 tiger barbs
- If i should get 2 real plants and light
- And after all that am i ready to start my fishless cycle
- And finaly, how long should it take

THanks for any help

 

[Sasha]

You want to do the Fishless Cycle before you introduce any fish. When I cycled my tank with the Fishless Cycle, I bought pure ammonia at Wal-Mart. That was the only place I could find it. It usually takes around 2 - 4 weeks to cycle the tank completely with the Fishless Cycle.

If you have anymore questions, just ask!

 

[MNfishy]

could i cycle it for like 12 days then add some like gold fish instead of keeping adding ammonia?

 

[keeper-of-fish]

pure ammonia can be bought lots of places just go ask if they have it or not, not only do you look important with a imployee leading you, you dont waste your time trying to find a store that has it.

temp for 3 tiger barbs 75-79 prob my tanks at 78


If you want to get lights then u can get more difficlut to keep plant but with your standard light there are still some choices of low light plants


after that you can start

mine took abit over a week but it varies

 

[keeper-of-fish]

ohh yhea add the barbs when your tests are good ammonia-0 nitrite-0

 

[MNfishy]

ok thanks i went to a drug store and hardware store with no luck of ammonia. My heater doesnt have temp just gi and lo, where do you think it should be?

 

[canarsie11]

could i cycle it for like 12 days then add some like gold fish instead of keeping adding ammonia?

Then it would not be fishless cycle

 

[canarsie11]

Where are you from?

 

[MNfishy]

i was just thinking maybe 12 days was enough to be able to put fish in it and survive

 

[bluefire]

if you can't gat ammonia, you could add a bit of food eg frozen brine shrimp or frozen blood worms and let it rot. this will give you a constant ammonia supply. i may be wrong, just an idea

 

[Slyspy]

If you are somewhere like the States then ammonia is easy to find. Like mentioned above just pick up a bottle of non-foaming (ie no soap) household ammonia from Wal-Mart or somewhere.

If you are somewhere like the UK where ammonia is more restricted you will have to get household ammonia from an independent hardware or household shop. Its trickier but can be done, just don't bother with chains like B&Q etc etc.

Don't be tempted to add fish, especially not dirty coldwater ones like goldfish, to your cycling tank. Just be patient. My little 30L tank took about two weeks.

Some tips from a fellow noob:

1) Try and get some gravel or filter media from a mature, healthy tank and put it in your tank. Your LFS may help here. This will provide a bacteria "seed" and can speed the process up.

2) I would had some real plants. They help keep nirates down when your tank is running, which may help reduce algae, and by the time your tank is cycled they will have grown into their new environment and be part of its little ecosystem. Plus they look nice. If I can keep them alive then so can you.

3) Don't bother with any chemicals like ammolock, or those that promise to speed up your cycle. A waste of time and money. All you need is something like Stress Coat to act as a dechlorinator.

4) Test the water for ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes everyday before adding the daily dose of ammonia. This will help pass the time!

5) Patience is the key, though it is tough. I told my friends, family and LFS not to let me get any fish for at least two weeks!

Good luck. It is worth the wait.

 

[MNfishy]

ok well i got some roundy's ammonia, which im 99% sure is pure ammonia. And if i get plants, how many should i have and any suggestions on what kind of light i should get?

 

[clutterydrawer]

get a fluorescent light, the highest wattage possible to fit over your tank...how are you gonna attatch this light then? you building your own canopy?
or have i missed something?

the type of plants to get depends on the light youget. how many you get is up to you.

 

[MNfishy]

they have some at my local petshop, so i should just look for migh wattage. Thanks for the help

 

[clutterydrawer]

and ummm broad spectrum as well I think? basically it needs to have a full enough spectrum to allow plant growth...the shop staff might be able to help you with that.