question about cycling

H

hubby

AC Members
Aug 25, 2010
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http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-5574853t400.jpg

I went to my local pet store and they recommended that I bought the 'Nutrafin Cycle' to cycle my 10 gallon fish tank. I'm sorta new on cycling and unsure of the steps in cycling when using that solution..

Can someone explain to me in steps what to do after setting up your gravel and adding water? When do I add the solution? fish? how do i check and monitor the water lvls ( brand of testing kit you recommend )?

*What are some fish you recommend that are hardy to put in the tank first to let it cycle that aren't fish like guppies that reproduce?

any help is appreciated! THANKS!!
 
I am not familiar with any type of "cycling" liquid to put in the water to cycle the water except BioSpira or media from an already established tank. Rb's link posted above is the only way I have ever cycled tanks (fishless) and have come to learn and stand by that patience is the best thing you can do for a well-balanced tank.
 
If you have access to an established tank cycling is a matter of not more than 2 days.

Your tank should have a filter running, a heater and dechlorinated water (use Seachem's Prime or AmQuel that remove not just Chlorine but also Chloramine).

Squeeze the filter sponges of an established tank into a pitcher. Also vacuum the bottom of the established tank and collect the "dirty water" Dump the "dirty water" from the filter sponges + the bottom vacuuming in your tank. Let the "dirt" fly all over the place.

In less than a day you should see the water clear up. There will be "dirt" settled everywhere. Stir it and let it settle on the bottom. You may need to stir it a few times, shake it off decorations, etc. But do not suck it out. You get the idea.

On the second day you are ready to add fish. But don't add too many - that's just common sense.

Any commercially available "cycling additive" is inferior to what I just described. Some of them work, but not as good as the "dirt" collected from an established tank.

For starter fish use anything that you feel is safe. Feeder fish that are cheap to get (20 cents a piece or so) are the worst choice - they may bring diseases because they are kept crammed and stressed.

--Nikolay
 
Dangerdoll said:
I am not familiar with any type of "cycling" liquid to put in the water to cycle the water except BioSpira or media from an already established tank. Rb's link posted above is the only way I have ever cycled tanks (fishless) and have come to learn and stand by that patience is the best thing you can do for a well-balanced tank.
Click to expand...
it was rebranded under tetra safe start. the guy who invented it dr tim came out with his own product that says its better then tetra safestart
http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/H2O_PURE_Products/H2O_PURE_Products.html
 
I too stick with fishless cycling.

For test kits, I recommend API liquid kits. Never trust test strips.
 
I also recommend fishless cycling. Nutrafin Cycle is believed to have the wrong type of bacteria.
 
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