I know, I know...but fishless cycle ?

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Kelly

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Nov 24, 2003
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I know that you guys are probably SO sick of hearing this question, but I have read so many articles and threads in so many places and am really confused. :( Sorry....

So could someone pretty please give me a step by step of how to fishless cycle?? I would be every greatful!!

My tank has been set up for 3 days and I am only getting trace ammonia testing at 1.2

Here is what I have...
29 Gallon Freshwater Tank
170 Penguin Bio-Wheel Filter
Heater
thermometer
hood/light

gravel, fake rocks, fake plants and two live plants (not sure what kind they are sorry and I hope I didn't mess up getting them, but the LFS guy said they would help cycle my tank)

I have asked questions at my LFS and get a different answer from each person. :( It is SO annoying and I trust you guys more so....could someone help?

Thank you!
Kelly
~who keeps thinking, the only dumb question is the one not asked right?? LOL
 
You will want to remove those live plants. It is fine for now to just put them in a glass jar with water and keep them in a warm sunny place.

Then you want to go and buy some pure ammonia. Make sure it has no scents or detergents added to it. If you can't find pure ammonia then put a piece of raw shrimp into the tank and it will rot and form ammonia.

Make sure to have a test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

Add enough ammonia to get 5ppm. Keep testing each day and top off as necessary to have 5ppm. During this time you will have a nitrite spike. This means that bacteria forming that eats the ammonia and gives off byproduct of nitrite. Keep topping off the ammonia. Eventually the nitrite bacteria will grow and start giving nitrate as a byproduct. This means you are closed to being finished. Soon you will top off the ammonia to 5ppm and the next day (24 hours) it will be zero. This means your tank is ready to house a full bioload of fish.

This may seem like a long time but it allows you to carefully plan your tank. Go to the LFS and figure out which type of fish and how many you are going to get. Do research on what these fish need. Ask questions on the forum. Be prepared as the scouts say.

During the cycle do not change the tank water. Do not change the filter media as this is where the bacteria grows predominantly. Live plants will slow things down by using the ammonia up before the bacteria can get to it.

When the cycle is done you have 24 hours to add a full bioload of fish. Remember to figure for the adult size of the fish. If you are not ready for the fish yet then keep adding 5ppm of ammonia to keep the bacteria alive. Beofre adding the fish do a 50% water change to get fresh oxygenated water in. Add the plants and fish all at once (carefully of course).

You never need to change the filter media for the tank. Just keep it clean of junk by rinsing it every week during the water change using old tank water.

Hope this helps and I hope I haven't missed anything.
 
if you wanted to speed up the cycling tho you could add some water from a freinds tank and maybe add a plant to but either of those will make your tank cycle faster. good luck!:) :eeek:
 
THanks so much TKOS, I was hoping you would reply. :) You were great at answering my fish questions.

You made it sound very simple, I was just getting so many opinions from so many different people that I didn't know what to do. The silly folks at one LFS told me to just wait 4 days and add fish. I KNEW that wasn't right. One store told me to wait 4 weeks, put the plants in now and just let it sit. I also thought that didn't sound right. I am REALLY greatful for this forum, you all have been SO helpful !!!

THANK YOU! I want to do this right and have a gorgeous tank of healthy fish. :)

Kelly
~who now has a plan :D
 
No problem. Glad to help. I wish that I had found all of this information when I first started which was really only the beginnign of this year. I went through a lot fo bettas before I knew what to do. But I haven't lost any of my fish since (except for the sick dwarf puffers I bought).
 
Yeah, that is a pretty good article that goes through the various myths and truths of fishless cycling. Good link.
 
That is one thing I love about computers, there is always somewhere to go and learn about things before you do them. :) I am sure finding I can't listen to the LFS people. :(

I have one question. How much ammonia do I put in to get that initial 5 ppm? Is there some sort of general guidline per gallon to add?

I am off to find some ammonia today, if I can fight the shopping crowds. LOL

And thank you for the link, I am going to go and take a look. :)

Kelly
 
what if you end up making TOO much benificial bacteria for your fish load? will the extra die off?
 
HI Thumper, I am sure the ones with experience will reply, but from what I just read on that awesome link posted you do a large water change right before you add your fish to get rid of the huge amounts of nitrates.

Kelly
 
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