bodieman

ok so i have a new 29 gallon cycling (fishless) at the moment and im starting to get nitrite readings. No nitrate yet, but my question is can i clean the gravel without messing up the cycle. there is a lot of food deteriorating that i would like to get up. Also this might be a stupid question...i know cleaning with untreated water kills beneficial bactiria but does just taking fake plants out of the water in general harm any bactiria that has built up on them?

sjlchgo

1.) You can clean the gravel but don't clean it "too much". Just get some of the food up. The ammonia will help with the cycling since you don't have fish.

2.) If you take out the plants you should keep them in some of the discarded water and clean them with that. Also do this with your filter inserts as well.

As long as you have no fish I wouldn't concern myself too much with the water quality, let it cycle and do it's thing.

pepetj

bodieman: Is your 29gal a bow (tall) tank? I see you have TWO tanks, so officially, in MTS. Good for you!

Your nitrite readings indicate that the first part of the nitrogen cycle is almost done (the sustained Ammonia Spike); within a day or two your readings of Ammonia will drop substantially within 24 hours, maybe drop to near zero in 12 hours, and nitrites will skyrocket (off-charts readings, with values >1.0ppm)

You'll do a thorough substrate cleaning by vacuuming all those solid waste ONCE your tank is fully cycled. That ugly scenario will likely help the cycle. Only if you have overfed the tank (e.g. Ammonia goes >6ppm) I would consider cleaning it, but only half of the substrate; in a couple of days you could clean the other half.

I have done fishless cycle to all my tanks while planted, and I only do a water change when the cycle is over. Must admit that first substrate vacuuming is gross (and I only use ammonia solution, not fish food, but it gets dirty, besides fine sand particles)

Pepe
Santo Domingo

bodieman

it is a 29 tall. my ammonia is at like 8 so i think ill do just a little vacuming. thanks for the help

capekate

Hello Bodieman
Welcome to fishlore. And congrats on going the fishless way to cycle your tank! Pepe has given you great advice there. I just wanted to add, that in my opinion you really shouldnt wash off those fake plants yet. You are developing the beneficial bacteria and they are on the substrate and decorations as well. Why take a chance in slowing down your cycle? If you have to vacuum the unsightly gravel, as Pepe advised I would only do only a small area, again so not to slow down your cycle.Same advice goes for cleaning your fake plants. I would suggest only cleaning one plant at each water change. Once your tank is actually cycled, you can do a vacuum and cleaning but beware that over cleaning will cause a mini cycle and you dont want that. I have done that far too many times when I over did a cleaning to include all the gravel, fake plants, rocks.. That is a big no no.. and I even lost fish because of that.
Good luck with the cycle.. it sounds like you are on your way! Dont worry about the high ammonia right now, you have no fish in the tank so it is not hurting anything.