Fishless cycling

[James From Cali]

I am going to fishless cycle my new tank thats going outside. Now reading the sticky I have a question(s).

Would pure ammonia hurt my plants? I wont have enough to actually start stocking the tank so that is why I ask.

Also, I know it will take a few weeks but after the Nitrites reach 0 I add fish right? Since this is the first time fishless cycle for me(I know Im bad ) I want to make sure I add the fish at the right time.

Also I dont actually have a filter for the tank but its going to be El Natural on filtration with 2 wc's a week(30%) so would that be a problem for the cycle?

According to Iggy's guide it says do one water change at the end of the Nitrite cycly, is that the only water change I do?

You would think I would know this by now but like I said this is the first time Im fish less cycleing.

 

[tom91970]

Do your water change (say about 90-95%) then add all the fish.

The amount of pure ammonia you will be adding probably is not enough to harm your plants. I dosed my tank daily with about 3 tsp (then down to 1 tsp) with apongeton, java fern, etc. and there were no negative effects.

 

[JWright]

Without a filter, you aren't gonna see a true "cycle"

Your plants will love the ammonia and eat it up directly.

Yes... you only need to do one major water change at the end of the cycle; this is to get rid of the massive amounts of nitrate that build up.

 

[FroggyFox]

Since bacteria colonize on the filter and the water movement is what really gets things going...I'd get the filter on there asap. I can't imagine that your plants are going to be very happy about no water movement either.

 

[tom91970]

Since bacteria colonize on the filter and the water movement is what really gets things going...

Yeah, I cycled a 30g with two filters and a bubble stone for maximum water movement.

I've been wondering why a filter's not being used on this tank...

 

[James From Cali]

Yeah, I cycled a 30g with two filters and a bubble stone for maximum water movement.

I've been wondering why a filter's not being used on this tank...

The tank is going to have a filter but not at the beginning. I am going to buy the tank this month and the filter the following month. So about 2 months for the tank to be up and running

 

[MissFishy]

If you already have a cycled tank, there is no need to fishlessly cycle a tank at all. Just seed the tank from your established tank and you're good to go.

 

[FroggyFox]

I agree...but seeding a tank that has no filter is really not going to do anything. I'd suggest getting that filter before you start the tank.