Starting new tank

[Gourami Swami]

There is a product called "dr. Tim's one and only", I believe it may have changed it's name now, but it is the only one of the "bacteria in a bottle" products that has ever worked for me. I have used it probably 5-10 times over the years, added at the same time as fish in a sterile tank, and it has not failed me.

Alternatively, you could go to your LFS and buy some of their old filter pads out of an established system. This works just as well.

Fishless cycling works but takes a month of patience and water testing... always seemed like an unnecessary PITA to me, when you could just plop some bacteria colonies in and get going right away.

 

[J. H.]

If you talk to the guy in your lfs, he may give you some cycled media for free. Every time I buy fish at my lfs he is happy to throw in some free goodies like snails, floating plants, etc. It is definitely worth a try.

 

[markstrimaran]

I have used only liquid ammonia, and started with a very toxic level. Nitrate ends up at plus 100ppm. So no need to wait for ammonia to peak out.

 

[Allan01230]

I like the old filter media work well

 

[DJRansome]

Established media or filter skips the cycle entirely by providing an already established crop of beneficial bacteria.

Fishless cycling with ammonia (purchased) is faster and cleaner than using food or shrimp or fish bits because you don't have to wait for the food or shrimp or fish bits to decay before producing the ammonia.

Cycling with live fish is toxic to the fish...why hurt them when you have an alternative that is just as fast? Yes you will have an empty tank for six weeks.