grappler

australia has run out of eco complete, LITERALLY!!! the supplier to australia is meant to be importing more but it wont be for a couple of months. and im pretty dead set on using eco complete. so i was wondering if i could cycle my tank so that when i can get some substrate my tank will be ready to go!!!!

i know theres the issue of keeping the bacteria fed once the tank is cycled, i thought maybe coz im planning on having 10-12 rasboras, i could use them to create some ammonia. the only issue would be whether they would get stressed or some how be affected by me introducing the substrate when i get it. e.g cloudy water. and would they be affected by not having a substrate.

any advise would be greatly appreciated. cheers.

Lucy

Fish less cycling is much more humane. You can use fish food or pure ammonia to cycle the tank. Really, it's not a good idea to subject your fish to the effects of ammonia and nitrites.

This would also alleviate the problem of adding substrate while there are fish in there.

If your tank gets cycled before eco complete is available, you could always move your fish into another tank while you add it and wait for it to settle down.

Good luck with your tank.

sirdarksol

Good thing about eco complete is that there is no "settling down". It lacks the small particulates that nearly every other substrate has. When I set my tank up, my fish went in about ten seconds after I had filled it. The substrate left absolutely no sediment in the water.

So set your tank up with its filter, cycle the tank with ammonia (best, in my opinion), fish food, or raw fish/shrimp, and, once it's cycled, you can add your fish. Then, when the eco complete arrives, you can add it to the tank. When adding it, put it in a bowl or bucket, and slowly lower this to the bottom of the tank. Then tip the bucket/bowl over and let the substrate out. Continue this until you're done, then spread the stuff out. You don't want to just pour the stuff in, as this could create shockwaves in the water that could hurt the fish.

COBettaCouple

It's best to cycle without fish. You'd probably want to start 4-6 weeks before the eco-complete is due to come in. Without fish in the tank, you don't have to worry about water changes and can let the levels skyrocket. You can also turn the heater to maximum and run aeration at full strength. Feed fish flakes every 12 hours and the tank could cycle in as little as 3 weeks.

grappler

thanx for the feedback guys. yeah i was going to do a fishless cycle, i just meant once its cycled i have to keep up an ammonia source to feed all the established bacteria correct? i just wanted to know if i could use the fish's waste as an ammonia source instead of adding ammonia everyday and if it was ok to have them in there without substrate. sorry if i was unclear. so the answer is yes i can. would it be bad to add the substrate using the bowl method while the fish are still in there? thanx

sirdarksol

Once it's cycled, yes, the fish will be the ones feeding the cycle. They will be fine without the substrate, and they should be okay if you gently add the substrate while they're in there (as long as there are no bottom-dwelling fish like cories)

grappler

cheers!!! so much to learn so little time! thanx again!

aquariumnewbie

Good luck to you and fish keeping! Take your time to learn I'm sure you will be a fast learner.