eric_m

hey folks,
I finally setup my tank.. still have to get the decorations.. but so far have the Filter, heater, and pool sand set up. its a 78 Gallon tank and a Canister Filter ( I just love how quiet it is.. my PC is louder) .. So I finally finally filled it with water.. Using the filter to fill it up.. connected the intake to a bucket under the sink with the water running and let the filter suck the water from the bucket filling the tank.. took awhile but was easier than hauling the bucket of water.. I didnt have the conditioner .. gonna pick it up today.. but I did add some ammonia.. I think I over did it.. since I did a reading just now and am getting 8.0 for the ammonia.. everything else is 0 ..

Can I just leave it alone for now and let it cycle.. or is the level too high??

jdhef

From what I've read, when doing a fishless cycle with ammonia, you are supposed to add ammonia everyday, (but I think in a smaller quanity than what you added). The ammonia then becomes food for the bacteria that turns ammonia into nitrites. So my guess is that you wouldn't need to add additional ammonia, until the ammonia level drops to maybe 2ppm or so.

Once nitrites start to appear, and you ammonia level drop to zero I think you are supposed to keep adding ammonia, but at a lower amount. This way the bateria that turns ammonia into nitites still has food and doesn't die off. Once the nitrites drop to zero and you start seeing Nitrates, you can stop adding ammonia and start adding fish.

Good Luck
John

Alessa

you need the conditioner... the benefitial bacteria die to the chlorine and chloramines present in the tap water...

Lucy

Congrats on the fish less cylce (yippee!)

I agree with John. I would do a huge water change before you add fish though.

tkfury

The good thing about a fishless cycle, is you don't really have to worry about any mistakes. I haven't used ammonia before even if you added too much, like the others have said, a water change will pretty much fix that when you're ready to add fish. Thats the beauty of fishless cycles ^_^

Shawnie

and also make sure you feed the tank either a lil fish food twice a day or throw a small piece of raw shrimp in to feed the bacteria that will form

eric_m

i just did a water change with the conditioner.. . the ammonia level seems to be better.. I think i overdid it the first time.. ok... I know I over did it ..figured more would be better..