Using Fish To Cycle

[carrera]

its really not as complicated as it sounds, just some ammonia and an ammonia/nitrite/nitrate test kit is all you need. in simple terms:

1. turn heater on full
2. add ammonia up to 5ppm
3. wait several days
4. test for ammonia
5. test every day after this and occasianally test for nitrites
6. you should soon see ammonia reach 0ppm and nitrites rise
7. add ammonia to bring back to 5ppm
8. test for ammonia again every day, until the point where it drops 5ppm to 0ppm in 12-24 hours
9. test for and top up ammonia every day here after to 5ppm
10. test nitrite every day, it will go off the scale but eventually drop to 0 pretty much overnight

thats pretty much it in 10 steps, afterwards check for nitrates as they should be off the scale. do a 90% water change, turn your heater back down and your good to go in 4-6 weeks with your full stock

for more details, this is the guide i followed which is really good. the 10 steps i have simplified are the "add and wait" method.

good luck if you try it, it really is the better way

 

[vancouver]

So I add ammonia until its at 5ppm.. then after like a week test again... if theres no ammonia add until its at 5ppm again..

Then it should go from 5-0 in a day.. then add again to 5ppm.. then nitrites will drop to 0 in a day.. and the cycle is done?

I've added an established filter sponge from another tank.. I guess that will speed the cycle up...

as for buying ammonia.. is there any type I should look for? and how much should I add approximately to get it to 5ppm? The tank is 75g

 

[carrera]

if you check the link i posted, there are answers to most of your questions in there

 

[vancouver]

I read everything, I'm just making sure I've got it correct.

 

[carrera]

well thats basically it then, just top up ammonia to 5ppm every time it reaches 0, which will be less and less time, eventually being 12-24hours ish.

the nitrite will not drop to 0 in a day, i think you misread. they will stay off the chart for a long time and then suddenly drop to 0 out of the blue. then you are done.

good luck

 

[vancouver]

OH ok I see... I don't have a nitrAte test kit.. is that a big deal?

 

[carrera]

nah not really, i guess you could do a complete cycle without one. might want to check at the end though just in case, even after a 90% water change, it could be high.

 

[Captain Retardo]

Also, I would like to add, when doing a fishless cycle it is good to have a LOT of aeration! I put 2 airlines in my tank with no airstone, and it was a 50 gallon pump also (I have a 29 gallon tank). It is a little hard to find the ammonia at first, but once you find it its easy, and if you lucky and have really good conditions then your tank will cycle in under a week! (like mine did!) You can also add all the fish at once. (also, I had my tank at around 86 degrees fahrenheit!)

The ammonia has to be clear, no perfumes or dyes. and it can't foam. My ammonia did bubble ( a little bit) and it had no ingredient label, but somebody else said they used it to cycle their tank so I tryed it out, and it worked!

The only time you would need to clean out a tank when doing a fishless cycle is when you accidently put ammonia with an ingredient that isn't good for the tank in the water (like I did the first time). So just be wary about your ammonia and you should be fine!

BTW-Please for the love of god don't smell the ammonia!

Good Luck, Hope you choose the fishless way (I mainly did so because of three things: Quickness, Preciseness and Being able to put all your fish in right away)

 

[carrera]

BTW-Please for the love of god don't smell the ammonia!

best advice possible, lol

 

[vancouver]

huffing ammonia.. EH!!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Did I ever say it was harmless? didn't think so.

So before you jump to attacking me, get your facts straight.

THANKS!!

Well, someone did....

Really, fish cycling causes little or no damage if you use the right fish for the job. Platies, Danios, and most other cyprinids, livebearers, and cichlids work very well. These animals are built to handle a slight raise of ammonia and it will not hurt them.

And I didn't see you disagreeing. Clearly the fact that one has died, one has fungus and they are 'weak' as you said completely falsifies that quote.

 

[Qays]

Why would you do the fishless cycle, its pointless to put the fish at risk when its quicker and easier to do the fishless cycle.

I disagree, I would have gladly done a fishless cycle.

Hmm, to bad some people cant find ammonia. Get into perspective, just because you have ammonia, doesnt mean others have it.

 

[newfishaddict]

I put in the filter sponge from an established tank into the tank in question.. but for some reason, the ph still dropped to almost 5.0, and 1 fish died. I did buy the fish from wal mart.. maybe that was a mistake.

If someone could give me a good link to fishless cycling I would appreciate it.. lots of people are telling me about fishless cycling, but nobody offered any advice on how to do it, or offered any links. So if someone would like to help me with fishless cycling, feel free!

edit : just checked on the fish, they're all looking alright in a different tank. 1 of the danios has a little white tuft on it, I think from being bitten. I'm going to do some water changes over the next few days. I don't want to medicate them as they are probably already feeling pretty weak. And they're in 1/2 a 55g, and on the other side is a pair of severums. I could move them to a smaller tank, but I don't think moving them would do any good, would probably stress them more.

The 75g ph is at 7.0, but I'm weary to add fish again. I think I will add the driftwood, wait 2 days, and see what the ph is like. I'm also looking into fishless cycling, so I can finish the cycle without fish.

I should say that I am "blessed" with perfect water right out of the tap here in Canada. but i fyour ph droped to 5.0 I think your KH (carbonate harness) is low. I would increase the Kh, I have never had to do this but I think you can use baking soda....

 

[vancouver]

once again.. did I say it doesn't harm the fish..

this topic is done with anyways, I got all the info I need.. thanks