Jhn

I had a few questions about the fishless cyle. First, my test kit doesn't have ammona it just has nitrite and nitrate. So far after about two weeks I haven't had a nitrite spike, should I have gotten one yet? Also, i'm using fish food for the cycle, will adding too much have any negative effects to the tank?

Peterpiper

Hi John, You realy need a ammonia test kit, so you can see how your cycle is going, right now you could have plenty of Ammonia in your tank, and you could be in the first stage of the cycle, but without a test kit you wont know.. and you will need to test for Ammonia whan you get your fish.. can you get a test for Ammonia and post your readings? then we can see how your tank is and help if you need it.

susitna-flower

Well the first thing I would do is get the API Master Test kit, I don't know what you are using to test, but if you already know you don't have the ammonia, and that is VERY important, not just for now, but also for later to keep on top of your tanks periodic mini cycles...you know you will need a full test kit.

The very best way to do the fishless cycle is with PURE ammonia. With that you can count the drops to know about how much you have going in, with the fish flakes and no ammonia test, you have no idea if anything has even been converted to ammonia, so I can't say if you should have had a nitrite spike.

If you don't want to worry about any of this, get some bio-spira and add it to your tank, with your fish and you are good to go!

tkfury

As susitna-flower said, you should get the API Master Test Kit - I believe most places try to sell it for $20-40 but online you can find it for about $15. I try never to buy just one thing when ordering online, that way it ends up offsetting the shipping cost.

As for adding too much food. I don't believe it'll be a problem. You'll have to clean the tank up after the tank has finished cycling before you can add any fish anyways. With food, it will get very messy in there. Some people have suggested using a piece of raw shrimp tired up in cheesecloth, helps reduce some of the mess but the smell might be another thing.

Blub

angelfish220

Yeah a kit with AT LEAST ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. as susitna flower said pure ammonia is easyest. I bought a small bottle and use it specifically for tanks and keep it with my fish stuff that way I know it hasnt come in contact of a different cleaning solution.

COBettaCouple

The liquid tests will provide you with more accurate results than the strips. The cycle can go at different rates, but I'd expect a nitrite increase by now.

Are you adding fish food every 12 hours? Is the water treated? No water changes or cleaning has been done on the tank, right?

eepruls

Those kits are expensive. Wow. If there was one to leave out, which one would it be? I guess if you do regular water changes you could do without the nitrates couldn't you? I'm sure many people have to pick and choose which ones to get because once you start adding everything up you could go broke!

Blub