Tony G.

Started my Fishless cycle yesterday, and i have added some flake to get the cycle going as soon as it decomposes. My question is as follows:

1) How much food should i be adding? I "fed" the tank 3 times yesterday, today i fed once.

2) Once i start seeing nitrites, should i keep adding the food? i think so, but i am not sure. The reason i doubt myself, is because the bacteria needs the ammonia source to keep going, so therefore i need to keep adding the food. Am i right?

3) Should i syphon weekly like i used to before? The reason i ask is because i dont want to have tons and tons of rotting flake at the bottom once the cycle finishes.

This is the first time i do a fishless cycle. My first tank i wasnt aware of the nitrogen cycle, so after that tank i just used some of it's own media to seed the other tanks.

Call me crazy, but i am starting to get seeing the tank empty. In the meantime i will research


thanks guys!

iloveengl

Sorry, Tony. As ya know, I cheated with mine and used TSS. I just wanted to offer my support with the waiting.

Yes! We can totally help you spend the time thinking of awesome fish and aquascaping options in the meantime.

Lucy

Hi Tony,
Cycling with Fish food can really get messy if you add to much. I kept a cycle going with fish food and ended up having to tear down the tank bfore I addd fish. Luckily there was a good bed of bacteria in filter media and the cycle wasn't lost.
Obviously, I'm no help with how much food to add.
1) Here's a quote from another thread:
2) Yes

3) I wouldn't, until you're cycled or if you've added too much food.

Good luck!

Tony G.

i loooove waiting! i bet my stocking list will change.... alot....
haha
so far here's what goes in the tank:
1 Raphael Catfish (he is my baby, and he's gonna live here for ever! [lifespan is 20+ yrs!])
8 Zebra danios (not sure if theyre gonna be longfin danios... those are pretty too!)

and something else
that will do well without a heater

lucy!

Thanks! alright! i am good now

bolivianbaby

Tony, sorry you've had so much loss lately. Unfortunately, I'm of no help with fishless cycling, but I think it would be safe to say continue "feeding" the tank after you get nitrites because the ammonia does have to continuously be introduced to the tank so it can be processed.

Hope this helps

aquarist48

Hello Tony. " Drop in a few flakes every 12 hours. As the food decomposes it will release ammonia. You will have to continue to "feed" the tank throughout the process to keep it going.".....Shawnie

Don't do any tank cleaning until your cycle is finished and right before you add fish you can vacuum and lower your nitrates as well.
Ken

Tony G.

wow all these responses in less than a minute!
thanks guys!

i am set to go!

ilikefish

Lol i don't change the stocking on my list i get another tank... ahh MTS lol

Tony G.

hahaha