Starting the bio cycle

[mizzie]

Ok, we are ready to start trying to cycle our 29 gallon tank and I want to make sure we are doing this right. At the moment we have all our substrate in the tank, filter running, lightly planted (we plan to get more) and driftwood soaked and in. Please forgive the newbie questions, I've never really done this before and want to get it right.

To start, we found some of that "Bio Start" stuff. It's refrigerated and has been (according to the pet shop worker). I know I can't rely on that to really get the aquarium cycled, but is there any reason not to add it to help? I mean, we'll still add the ammonia and test until the levels are right, but that might help start things going. Also, I don't want to add Prime in while it's starting to cycle, right? Since that would neutralize the ammonia.

Here's my thinking. Add the ammonia, test the water (API master test kit), then add the bio start. 24 hours later, test the water again and add more ammonia accordingly. Keep that up until ammonia starts testing at 0, then add fish. Does that sound right?

Let me know if I'm missing anything or if something is wrong.

 

[67chevelle]

You got it.
Do you have liquid tests for nitrite and nitrate too?(scratch this,I re-read your post and you got 'em)
What kind of "Bio Start" did you get?To my knowledge,the only stuff that still needs to be refridgerated is for saltwater.

 

[clb2196]

Yeah the biostart probably won't hurt anyway. Lots of people here may say not to bother using it, but I used SuperBac (same idea) when cycling my first tank, and it seemed to speed things up.

Also, as I understand it, Prime "neutralizes" ammonia so it's not damaging to fish, but it's still there for the bacteria to use. However, until there are fish in there, no reason to waste money using dechlor, since you'll do a big WC at the end before adding fish anyway.

Good luck!

 

[mizzie]

Great! Thanks for the answers. Just added the ammonia. Will test the water in a bit (to give it time to mix) and add the starter. We got the Tetra Safe Start. It says on the website that it doesn't need refrigeration, but they had it in a fridge and so have we since we bought it. Can't hurt anyway.

 

[Jspigs]

I would use the prime because it is my understanding that chlorine/chloramine kills the bacteria you are trying to grow.

Also prime detoxifies ammonia but the detoxified ammonia is still able to be used by the bacteria so using prime will not harm your cycle at all.