Cycling 5 gallon acrylic w/ undergravel filter

[Druu]

I just got a 5 gallon acrylic and set it up with freshwater. I want to start cycling but have a few questions:

1- Will adding fish flakes still work even though there is no 'real' filter?

2- Should I add fish flakes (or ammonia) to cycle before or adding gravel? I plan on adding about 5 pounds of gravel after rinsing thoroughly.

Thanks

 

[Bobnova]

1) Yes. A filter is a filter, even if the filter media is gravel.

2) After, most of the useful bacteria will be colonizing said gravel.

 

[Reddog80p]

I would run your UGF in Reverse if possible( powerheads would need to be reversible). But then youd need a power filter to remove patricles.

 

[Druu]

Thanks bob. Ive got tap water sitting in it now to dechlorinate and I'll add gravel tomorrow afternoon. About how long until I can add fish to it? (I plan on getting some java moss and using it as a growing out tank for the guppy fry I've got now.) Thanks

 

[Bobnova]

An unseeded fishless cycle typically takes 4-6 weeks.
If you can get gravel or filter media from an established tank it cuts a good bit of time off it.
I recommend getting a "master test kit", made by aquarium pharmaceuticals or Tetratec, they will allow you to test the tank daily to find out when the cycle is finished.

 

[Druu]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by filter media.. Do I put a used filer bag into the 5 gallon for a while? Or should I scrape some slime from the inside of the filter? If possible, I'd like to get the fry into the 5 gallon within a week or two. Thanks.

 

[Bobnova]

You could put a used filter bag on or in the gravel so that the water that gets pulled through the gravel is pulled through the bag.
That should do it, especially if it's only a few fry.

Squeezing the filter bag out so that the gravel catches the gunk it in helps too.
I'd do both, personally.

Then get a test kit and water the water quality like a hawk, or some other animal that watches things really closely.

 

[jm1212]

a UGF is not a very efficient type of filtration when used by itself. they do work great though when there is an external HOB filter on the tank also to use for mechanical and chemical filtration.