Fishless to Fishy

[SirWired]

If you did change your mind mid-way--which happens I know when you go to the store and impulsively buy a fish--it isn't a good idea, but if you do it, basically you have to change out all the water to get down to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, which means you are basically starting over the cycle with a fishy cycle. It will take just as long as a fishy cycle, because you are basically going back to the beginning, and will have to test the water all the time and do dozens of water changes.

Sarcare,

I'm not quite sure you said exactly what you meant. I don't think doing a complete water change in the middle of the cycle will restart the cycle, as long there is an ammonia source present. Since the bacteria largely live in the filter media instead of the water, I don't see how a TWC would restart things from scratch.

SirWired

 

[Rbishop]

Maybe she meant to do a water change of 100% to get the ammonia to zero and start a fishey cycle?

cathrynlisa...I would just keep going qith your fishless routine, patience!

 

[amyandlars]

I am the most impatient person in the world. Even with a fishless cycle I tested the water twice a day. 2 days into the Nitrite spike I test for Nitrates. Which is kinda pointless, becuase you really only need to test for Nitrates at the end when your ammonia and nitrites are at 0. For some reason getting that nitrate reading made me feel a little better, so if your getting impatient you could always do the nitrate testing if see a reading would help you out. Just make sure to keep adding ammonia to keep feeding the nitrites, and eventually you'll get a cycled tank.