Steps to fishless cycling?

[jiminy_crime]

Can and will anyone explain to me fully the steps to fishless cycling? I was told to add 4 to 5 drops of pure ammonia for every ten gallons everyday until I had an ammonia spike, then reduce the drops of ammonia to 2 or 3 until I achieve a nitrite spike. At this point I was told to stop adding ammonia and begin my water changes to bring the nitrates down. If this is wrong could someone correct this before I make a terrible mistake? Thank you for your time.

Gratefully,

Charlie

[carpguy]

Ammonia concentrations can vary from one source to the next so that there is no "right" number of drops per amount of water.

Add enough ammonia to the tank to get to 5ppm. Note how much it takes to do this. Check the ammonia each day. If its less than 5ppm add enough ammonia to get back to 5ppm. When you're back to the original dose -- when your bacteria can handle the full dose in 24 hours -- cut the dose in half.

You'll be seeing nitrites by this point. The bacteria that reduce nitrites can be sensitive to high ammonia levels and to low pHs. The cutting the dose in half bit is for their benefit. You'll also want to keep an eye on the pH throughout, especially if you have a lowish KH. The process produces acid and can cause a pH crash. The nitrites will spike and then start to fall.

When both ammonia and nitrites are at 0ppm 24 hrs after a dose you're cycled. You might want to go with 2 or 3 days at double zero just to be sure. At this point you'll have very high nitrates (you can test for all this stuff): a large water change (most of the water) will clear the nitrates without harming your colonies. You'll want the nitrates at least below 40ppm and preferably below 20ppm.

Over at the SkepticalAquarist, WetMan has a good section on fishless cycling (http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/fishless.shtml). It contains links to the original Chris COw articles as well as this excellent article on fishless (http://www.csupomona.edu/~jskoga/Aquariums/Ammonia.html). The sticky at the top of this forum is also very good.

HTH