fishless cycle

[Charney]

so this is the first time i have had to do a fishless cycle. In the past I have always had established filters that I could use on my new tanks. When in the cycle is the best time to add bottled bacteria to the tank? I know there is debate on how good of a product these are, but i doubt it is going to hurt. thanks

 

[joe jaskot]

Rather than waste money on bottled bacteria, go to your local fish store and buy some aquatic plants. Throw them in your tank. They will have lots of beneficial bacteria on them. In addition the plants will remove ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate directly from the water. Your tank will cycle in no time.

 

[Dylz]

thats pretty smart, the pet shanty is close to you.

 

[Charney]

i have the bacteria. I got it for next to nothing. I don't want run the tank with lights right now. Plus I use media from established tanks with the filter. When is the best time to add supplementation during the fishless cycle? Also I am just now reading over the ammonia I bought. In the ingredients it also has surfactant. Is surfactant typically soap right? Guess I need to run back out.

 

[Dylz]

if your using cycled media from other tanks you should be good if you have enough. but your initial post stated. " In the past I have always had established filters that I could use on my new tanks." implying you were not able to do that this time. if your running back out just grab a hand full of guppies and throw them in.

 

[lipadj46]

yes return the ammonia, if you have an Ace nearby they have pure household ammonia. Tetra Safe Start is the best bacteria starter IMO. I had better luck with that than seachem stability

 

[Charney]

in the past i used full established filters from one tank and put them on to the new set up. This time I grabbed some media out of a established filter and added it my fx5. Hopefully enough to seed it, but not nearly enough to have an established filter. The filters are by no means established.
These filters are for my 125g that I am setting up in March. Right I am cycling them (fx5 and two AC 110s) on a 50g I had sitting around.

 

[Charney]

Thanks lipadj46, at what point in the fishless cycle did you add it?