Starting A Fishless Cycle

[tzimpfer]

OK so I started cycling my tank today with Ammonia. My question is, currently in my tank I just have my sand, air stones, heaters, thermometer, and obviously my filter. I do not have any decorations, wood, or rocks. I plan on cycling my tank and buying the rest of the stuff in February when my LFS will have a huge sale. Since the bacteria lives in the filter and that is what I am trying to grow, am I OK adding this stuff later? I will not be using live plants. My thought is to add the decorations to the tank and then test my levels again, maybe wait a few days, test again and if OK add fish, thoughts on doing this?

 

[strobe1980]

I'm no expert but the general word of the people I have spoke to say it is fine to add decor and fake plants, it's only live plants that
You have to watch as their will be a build up of brown algae which isn't to good for live plants, as for fake plants and decor that's all good as the "friendly " bacteria have more surfaces to grow on.Because youre having fake plants you can still cycle without having your tank lights on,this will slow the build up of brown algae.As i say im no expert but it is what I have been told .Good luck.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

OK so I started cycling my tank today with Ammonia. My question is, currently in my tank I just have my sand, air stones, heaters, thermometer, and obviously my filter. I do not have any decorations, wood, or rocks. I plan on cycling my tank and buying the rest of the stuff in February when my LFS will have a huge sale. Since the bacteria lives in the filter and that is what I am trying to grow, am I OK adding this stuff later? I will not be using live plants. My thought is to add the decorations to the tank and then test my levels again, maybe wait a few days, test again and if OK add fish, thoughts on doing this?

I would continue to dose the tank with ammonia and add the decor whenever you wish - it will have no measurable affect on the cycling process. Further, the ammonia dosing should continue through roughly 24 hours before you plan to add the fish - and be sure to do a COMPLETE water change prior to adding the fish, as the cycling process can build up very high nitrate levels.

But, adding the fish shouldn't happen until both ammonia and nitrite are coming up as zeros, roughly 12 hours after dosing the ammonia in the tank.

 

[tzimpfer]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate you both confirming my thoughts. And don't worry eaglesaquarium, I have noted to do a complete water chnage prior to adding fish!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

;-)

You're welcome.