Fishless Cycling

[LisaB]

I have just started a second tank (30 gallon) that I will be keeping two small parrot Fish until they get too large and then will transfer to a 55 gallon. l set up the tank yesterday with some media from a cannister filter I am currenlty using on another tank and also some bio balls from that tank and some old plastic plants that I kept in the tank just for this purpose.

My question is, when do I add fish? Right now obviously ammonia is at 0. I have some live plants coming Tuesday or Wednesday.

Any advice would be really helpful!

Thanks@
Lisa

 

[petluvr]

Plants can go in now, I think they actually help the cycle along. I will still give it time before adding fish. What test kit are you using?

 

[LisaB]

I ordered the plants. I don't really like the ones our local fish store carries. Should I get a few tomorrow and put them in?

I'm using a fresh water master test kit.

 

[Rbishop]

If you added established media from a current healthy and stable tank, you will need to feed the bacteria or it will die off. Add a fish or two now.

 

[LisaB]

I can't today, but I could get a few zebra danios tomorrow. I just hate the idea of stressing out the fish.

 

[Rbishop]

Stock lightly and monitor ammonia/nitrite/nitrates and you should do fine.

 

[LisaB]

Thanks!

 

[Reddog80p]

Just keep in mind that the bacteria you put in now, will die off or multiply depending on your bio-load. Bacteria does not stockpile and only enough to handle the current bio-load will survive. The plants you will be adding will help also, just add the rest of your fish slowly, or an ammonia spike may occur while your bacteria adjust to the new levels.

 

[LisaB]

Thank you I will do that!

Lisa

 

[wataugachicken]

in order to do a fishless cycle, you need to not only feed the bacteria but build the colony up to a level that will completely support the fish you are planning on adding to the tank. this is accomplished by either dosing the empty tank with pure ammonia or an ammonia-producing medium (decaying fish food or a rotting cocktail shrimp). otherwise you will be doing a fishy cycle, though it will be helped along by the plants and the seeded filter media (if the bacteria doesn't die from starvation in the interim).