I need help! (Fishless Cycle ???)

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#1
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#1
Hi all
Well I finally got my Marineland filter and I've decided to do a fishless cycle, so here my question. I just put ammonia in the tank and it is above 5ppm. Its already been a few days it has been like this, and I have'nt added any additional ammonia to it. So, do I need to keep on adding ammonia everday even if it reads above 5ppm? or add it when it goes down? also, I plan on getting a nitrite test kit but do i really need it? can't I just add ammonia, until the ammonia is zero, and wait more then month and then add some fish? because its pretty expensive in my LFS. and it takes way too long to wait for it if i order it online. ok thanks..
 

NickM

NickM

Large Fish
#3
Oct 22, 2002
182
0
0
42
Atl. GA
#3
You're expecting this to take way longer than it possibly could.  I poured ammonia in my tank, and waited about 10 days and my tank was fully cycled and fish ready.  Now mind you, this was with a regular carbon filter (b4 I got my biowheel) so yours might take less....I don't know because this was the first tank I have ever cycled......first tank I have ever owned.  

Wonderfish is right on the money though.  I didn't have a nitrate test kit, I bought a test kit that came in a green box that had about 6 different tests in it, it was about 20 bucks.  The only difference in buying a nitrate, and a nitrite test kit is, if you have a nitrite test kit, you have to wait for that number to peak and go to 0 again.....and if you have a nitrate test kit, you just have to wait for a number to appear on it.  

Good luck  *celebratesmiley*
 

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#4
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#4
ok thanks for your input. ...but do you keep on adding ammonia even if the test reads above 5PPM? or just leave it as is...also is nitrite kit absoulutely not necessary, only a nitrate test kit (for expense reasons) . ok if someone of more FISHTANK.NET EXP & POST can answer...maybe colesea, roncar, atlantic fish, arcab, or someone of that ranking can answer my question. also, am i missing something? thanks.


RacerFish
 

Matt Nace

Matt Nace

Superstar Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
1,470
1
38
Pennsylvania
#5
Let me try and get this ironed out.

You keep a constant level, so if your ammonia is still at 5ppms, it wont hurt you to add more, but you add it as the bacteria uses it, so no, you would not have to if the level is the same.

[quote author=WonderFish link=board=beginner&num=1026538779&start=0#1 date=07/12/02 at 23:09:52]
All you really need is an ammonia test kit and a nitrate test kit.  Once you get nitrate readings you know your tank has cycled.  
[/quote]

You will need an ammonia for keeping your level at 5ppm.
You will need a nitrIte, to make sure your levels reach 0
You will need the nitrate to keep them in check after it cycles, and to give you an idea when the nitrItes are starting to work.

"Once you get nitrate readings you know your tank has cycled. " That is a big NO.

Your ammonia to nitrItes bacteria develop first. Then your NitrIte to NitrAte bacteria starts. You will begin getting nitrate readings even when these are still developing(and in the peak deadly range)

Only a 0 ammonia, 0 nitrItes and a reading  with nitrAtes means it is cycled.

[quote author=NickM link=board=beginner&num=1026538779&start=0#2 date=07/13/02 at 08:16:22]
You're expecting this to take way longer than it possibly could.  I poured ammonia in my tank, and waited about 10 days and my tank was fully cycled and fish ready.

[/quote]

If your tank is not seeded, it could very well take over a month to cycle. 10 days is a seeded tank in most cases.

Seeding is getting a bacteria from somebodys established tank to help kick start your cycle. Gravel or filter media, decorations ect.

HTH  ;)
 

NickM

NickM

Large Fish
#6
Oct 22, 2002
182
0
0
42
Atl. GA
#6
Hey Matt....my tank took 10 days, and I it wasn't seeded at all....no filter media, and no gravel from a running tank.....just me, and my ammonia bottle.   *celebratesmiley*
 

Medic6666

Medic6666

Large Fish
#12
Oct 22, 2002
113
0
0
55
London, UK
#12
I cycled my tank and never once tested it. Now 3 months after I added my fish I wondered what the readings would be.

I went to my lfs and bought 2 tests Ammonia and NitrIte

These came as a test tube and a tablet with a color chart you compare the color the water changed to.

After doing the tests my tank came out perfect. I am now going to buy the other tests and see what they say.

Do this mean my tank can take a few more fish???

Cheers

Medic6666
 

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#13
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#13
thanks senor~fish for clarification on my query. So would there be any benefit if I keep adding ammonia even if it reads above 5PPM? would the bacteria colony culture faster because there is more ammonia..? because if its not gonna make any difference why put more ammonia. ok before i go. I just want to tell how i do my fishless cycle. There water in the tank with the Marineland biowheel, i put Ammonia above 5ppm, I check the ammonia everyday if its above 5PPM, I then check nitrites every few days, then when its 0 Nitrite my tank is cycled.. Am I missing something in the process? also "CYCLE" if do use this product, will I have to put ammonia after i put in this product in my tank? hehehe i know its kinda jumbled. ok hope someone will understand this. thanks again.
 

NickM

NickM

Large Fish
#14
Oct 22, 2002
182
0
0
42
Atl. GA
#14
I am not sure about adding ammonia every day.  One of the mistakes I made was I poured my ammoni right into the tank and never checked to see if it was the right amount.....my ammonia level stayed above 6 and 7ppm until about the 8th or 9th day.  
 

A

aspguru

Large Fish
#15
Oct 22, 2002
213
0
0
www.aspalliance.com
#15
Everybody knows the hell I went through cycling my tank. Go check out my old posting. http://www.myfishtank.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=freshwatergeneral&action=display&num=1021430961
That will tell you everything you need to know. I have been through it. Yes it is hell, but have patience and it will happen. ;D
 

R

RacerFish

Large Fish
#16
Oct 22, 2002
127
0
0
#16
thanks for your input, but i need more details, if somone of high ranking could answer my question that would be helpful.

ok, this may sound kind of dumb, but do I need to do water changes even if there are no fish??? Please englighten me on this

RacerFish
 

luvfishies

luvfishies

Large Fish
#20
Oct 22, 2002
615
0
0
60
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
www.skwij.ca
#20
You might need to do a waterchange if the nitrites get "stuck". It happens in a fishless cycle sometimes.

I would say "no" to larger tanks taking longer to cycle...you add more ammonia to get the 5 ppm reading..and from there it's basically the same.

I would also not add more ammonia til the reading gets under 5 ppm.....it does no good to keep adding it, and could possibly slow the cycle down by inhibiting the NitroBacter growth.
 

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