Evelyn1919

I'm about to start a new tank. It is a 10gal and I would like to do the fishless cycle this time. It will be the home of a betta. I've never had a betta before but I think it would be a good idea and I also like them very much.

I was reading about the fishless cycle with ammonia but I don't want to go to Walmart or where ever it is that you buy the pure ammonia so can I just use fishfood? also I heard of some people using a piece of fish or a raw shrimp but does do they mean just a shrimp from the supermarket?

Here is what I have so far so if someone thinks I will need something else please let me know.
-10 gal tank
-gravel
-plastic planst and decorations
-filter for up to 30gals
-screen hood (but will get a glas one and the light)

**I still don't have the heater but I will buy it today.

also I have a 75gal tank that I just finished cycling so I'll use some of that gravel to start the cycle.

Any other suggestions?
I want to make sure I the nitrogen cycle is finished before purchasing the fish.

thanks!

Amnagrla

You can use regular fish food. I've also heard the piece of shrimp thing. I always understood it just as a chunk of regular ol' stop 'n' shop shrimp, however, I've never tried this...

Lucy

You can use a peice of filter media from your cycled tank along with the gravel it should be almost an instant cycle.

Just be sure to feed the bacteria (fish food or pure ammonia) so it doesn't die off if you don't add fish right away.

Or....since you don't have a heater, and the betta needs 1 you could put the new filter media into the established tank for a couple of week, bacteria will grow on it.

Good luck.

aquariumnewbie

Cycling fishless can be done with many different methods. For your 10g, perhaps sprinkle fish food into the tank everyday till you get Ammonia readings and slowly to nitrite and nitrate. No water change should be done when cycling fishless and when you've gotten 0 for both nitrite and ammonia, you're done.

COBettaCouple

I cycled some tanks doing fishless cycling and added misc. fish food every 12 hours. Any food does the trick really and I found it a good use for food older than 6 months.