135 gallon questions!

[MissT]

We have a 55 gallon African Cichlid tank that was cycled using a fish in cycle. We have guppies breeding like crazy.
We now have a 135 gallon to cycle and want to do a fishless cycle. I have Ammonia (Janitorial Strength). I'm unclear how much Ammonia to add to start the cycle. I have read too many different pages! 5 drops per gallon, 10 drops per gallon, 3 teaspoons. I have read to get my Ammonia to 2ppm and also 5ppm. Which is it!!? And am I correct that once I show Nitrites I drop the Ammonia amount by a bit?

Tank Specs:

135 gallon
Fluval FX5
AquaClear 110
Temp 79/80 but will raise to 85 for cycle
about 10 plants (Anacharis, Ludwigia and Banana Plants
Sand Substrate

The tank will eventually house our Common Pleco which was sold to us for our 10 gallon guppy tank!! We were told he would do great in there! I'm not willing to get rid of him so I am planning this bigger tank around him. I realize he may destroy the plants, but I still want to try. I am not sure what his future tankmates will be.
Can I add plants during the cycle or do I have to wait?

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

forget the ammonia.. just pick up a bottle of seachem stability and cycle your tank with that.

 

[dr_sudz]

Just pour a bunch in and see what your readings are, that will kick start the cycle can't go too over board with the ammonia because it just means your bacteria will have lots to feed off. I would bring it to the 1.0 - 2.0 at the beginning just dump a fare amount in, its not like you have anything to worry about killing off in the start up.

 

[Iffrat]

I would just use a filter from your tank thats already set up .. when i set up my 130 gal tank i took the rena 3 from my 150 and ran it on my new tank with the Fx5 for about a month then moved it back to the 150 (the 150 also had a fx5) put fish in the first day with out any problems .. only chemical i have ever used in any of my tanks is prime because i have city water