zizziz

the sticky, Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle, is exactly how to do a "fishless" cycle? or is that something extra you can do while doing a fishless cycle. Do you "feed" the tank like there are fish in there as well with flakes? If there is another sticky related to the entire process does anyone have the link? tanks!

Lucy

Hi zizziz Welcome to Fish Lore

That sticky is exactly how to do a fishless cycle.
If you use pure ammonia, you don't have to use flakes.

Here's a link that might help:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Good luck and congrats on cycling fishless.

Lucy

Sorry about the back to back posts. I just saw your post from yesterday.
Did you take both sharks back?

zizziz

no. i just took the one back just now. I hated to do it. I took the one that was getting beat up back, funny though, within 5 minutes it was attacking some at the store. I did buy more plants and the liquid test kit like the fishless article said too. I am going to test everything right away to see whats going on. on another front, how much care should there be with sticking your hands/arms into the tank to move things around add plants adjust the airlines catch fish etc....

thanks!

Lucy

Let me get back to why I asked you about the sharks. You can only do a fish less cycle without fish.

If you have fish no not add ammonia.

I guess I'm confused.

You need to make sure your hands and arms and clean and rinsed of all soap residue.

pepetj

Hi zizziz. Wellcome to fishlore!
As long as your hands/arms are clean, well rinsed, and dry, without soap/chemicals remainings, you shouldn't worry about troubling/contaminating the water in the tank. I use a syringe (comes with the Tetra Laborett Test Kit) to take samples of water, and perform liquid reagents test regularly ar safe distance from the tank (could be a mayor disaster if even a few drops from one of those liquids entered the tank).
Besides creating some mess around with spilling or dripping some water, it's quite safe for you and the fishes.
I rather use ammonia solution because that way I can control the number (of drops) added during the whole process. I followed Sticky and cycled my first tank in 11 days. I,m currently on the third day of fishless cycle of my fourth tank.

Good luck and enjoy the process.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

zizziz

lucy,

sorry for the confusion, im not doing a fishless cycle because i still have the little guy in there. I tested the tank by taking out a sample and using the viles. the ammonia and nittrite is 0, ph is good. the tank was started on july 4th, fish was added 2 days later on the 6th, I tested it last night on the 8th.

Pepe,

I love the syringe idea, I have to get me one of those.

I guess I was just like any other dumb noob who just went to a fish store bought a tank and threw fish in it. I will continue to read and visit this site so i make the least amount of mistakes possible. Its a great place.

thanks

Lucy

That's ok, I'm easily confused.

You're not dumb, the store needs to take some responsibility by educating people before they buy.
We're glad you found us.

Good luck.