- Nutrafin Cycle, Advice? -

[SidKarver]

Has anyone here ever used Nutrafin Cycle?

I just filled my new 150 gal. The temp is still cold, about 59deg. I haven't added any de-chlorinator, or the N-Cycle (nor fish, needless to say).


The details are a bit fuzzy to me...


Do I add the N-Cycle as it says to for the 1st day, then immediately add my (acclimated) fish? Or do I add it and wait 3 days?

Product website says it needs: a PH above 7.0 (&#8730, De-chlor (&#8730, and a source of ammonia for the bacteria colony to grow.. So, would I need to add my fish the first day of using cycle?, so as to provide the catalyst (ammonia) for the bacteria to keep growing?

In other words: Will the bacteria from N-Cycle die if I don't add my fish for a few days?

I'm wondering if it's safe to add a (Oscar Cichlid) fish that soon?

 

[packer43064]

You will need the ammonia present in the tank for your Nutrafin to work. I'm sure it works much like Stability, yours just may be a knock off version. I assume you have a heater in there. Give it a few days for the bubbles on the side of your tank to go away and let the temp raise to correct temperature. Then add your fish, I would wait a couple of course just to let the fish get some wastes in there then add your Nutrafin and do as it says.

 

[SidKarver]

You will need the ammonia present in the tank for your Nutrafin to work. I'm sure it works much like Stability, yours just may be a knock off version. I assume you have a heater in there. Give it a few days for the bubbles on the side of your tank to go away and let the temp raise to correct temperature. Then add your fish, I would wait a couple ....

A couple: mins, hours, days, weeks?

 

[packer43064]

Must have erased that part. A couple of hours.

 

[lipadj46]

Nutrafin Cycle uses land based bacteria so they will eventually drown, use stability or tetra safe start but you need to add fish with it as it needs a food source

 

[komodo182]

Nutrafin Cycle uses land based bacteria so they will eventually drown, use stability or tetra safe start but you need to add fish with it as it needs a food source

Why use fish?

Why not use pure ammonia?
Cheaper and you put no stress on fish.

I personally would use pure ammonia and test the tank daily until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and some nitrates. Then do a water change and slowly add fish keeping up with the water tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

An important note: only use pure ammonia if there are NO fish in the tank!

That is how I set up my tanks.

 

[lipadj46]

Why use fish?

Why not use pure ammonia?
Cheaper and you put no stress on fish.

yes that would be the best

 

[SidKarver]

OK. I read all of your posts . . . I don't have ammonia in my house (I have a baby so I don't clean with it).


BUT. I have another Idea.. My neighbor has a 5" goldfish (I could put him in my tank for the first 3 days to let the N-Cycle establish, then return him??? ???

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I don't think your neighbour will be please to subject his fish through the ammonia cycle. I recommand throwing a market prawn in there, as the prawn breaks down, ammonia is release which serve as food for the bacteria and starts the cycle.

And even if your neighbour loan you his goldfish, 3 days isn't nearly enough to completely cycle an aquarium. You would need to wait for the ammonia spike and then the nitrite spike. The shortest to complete a cycle without seeding BB from substrate or established filter media (basically cycling your first tank) is about 7 days for me. I dosed Stability since many claim it works unless other Bacteria-in-bottle.

 

[lipadj46]

BUT. I have another Idea.. My neighbor has a 5" goldfish (I could put him in my tank for the first 3 days to let the N-Cycle establish, then return him??? ???

If your neighbor does not mind the chance that the fish dies, gold fish are very messy fish too and create a lot of waste. I will repeat what I said above though, nutrafin cycle is not a proper bacterial additive and does not work as a cycling aid, return it and buy tetra safe start or flourish. It is land based bacteria that will out compete the proper bacteria and then die so it needs to be added weekly. If you must cycle with fish you need to do daily 25% water changes with prime until you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and at least 10ppm nitrates and some of your fish will die.