scape32xz

so my question is, how can i do a fishless cycle without using pure ammonia since i cannot find any ammonia product that doesnt foam when shaken

ive read online about people using fish food but the detail wasnt accurate enough, as in:
how much fish food do i actually put into my tank ( 26g )
what type of fish food will work best for this method
how long will it take for it to be complete
would all the fish food damage my tank/filter or clog it in some way
i also heard that all the fish food will make ur house or at least room stink up really bad, is this true?
overall i just want to know if this method is really effective

i really do not want to go out and buy a couple of neons and have them die just to cycle my tank

kimb

I have only used pure ammonia (golden brand from Walmart). In the states, I have heard that Ace hardware carries the right type. That being said, others have had great success with raw shrimp. Yes it will smell. Put a piece of raw shrimp in a mesh bag, hang it in your tank and wait. The fish food method will work but takes longer, and then you have to get rid of all that rotted food. Others have had amazing results rwith a product called Tetra Safe Start. Wait a bit and others with more experience will be along. The best thing is you have decided to cycle without fish. It will be worth the wait! Good luck...by the way, Welcome to Fishlore!

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore
Congrats on going fish-less.
Ditto on Kim's advice. I've kept a cycle going with fish food and I wouldn't do it again. We may have added too much, but ew, by the time we wanted to add fish the food in the gravel was terrible. I had to tear down the tank and rinse the gravel to get it all out. What a mess.
Since you don't want to use ammonia, I'd choose the shrimp or Tetra SafeStart over the food method.

Good luck!

harpua2002

I'd recommend a raw grocery store shrimp. If you put it in an unused nylon stocking, it isn't that bad when you have to pull it out of the tank.

Dozey

Ditto on the shrimp method. Another option would be to find a fellow aquarist in your area willing to share some of their seeded filter media and perhaps even some of their gravel. If you can get your hands on some established media this will effectively “instantly” cycle an aquarium.

Check if there are any aquarium clubs in your area. You are likely to find a generous member willing to help you out with this.

Welcome to FishLore and best of luck!

wooza

I would go with ammonia if you can find some. I have had prawns and food in my tank for over 3 weeks now and havn't received a single ammonia reading. Since then I have removed the food and prawns, and am now using 9.5% ammonia from homebase. It seems to be working.

scape32xz

all right it sounds like its safe for me to use the shrimp method
ill give that one a try

kimb

Shrimp is probably the easiest route for you to go. You don't have to keep adding or worry about over dosing the ammonia. Make sure you put it in a mesh type bag, or piece of pantyhose (new ones that have never seen soap) that way as it starts to decay, you will not have pieces floating. Good luck with everything

Brimstonepdx

I wish I would have thought about putting it in nylon, I failed to do this and didn't have many issues but there where some floatys and gunk in the sand. nylon also would have made for an easier time pulling it out of the tank.

It also seems to really vary on how long this method takes and that is most likely due to all sorts of variables. Some say it should take at least 4 to 8 weeks but my personal experience was only a 2 week cycle for a 55gal. Based on my most recent experience and articles I have read online, If you are looking for a faster cycle, I'd make sure to keep your tank running around 80 F and if you can, naturally raise your pH to around 8.0 (by tossing in some lime stone or crushed coral in more nylon). Higher temps and PH help the bacteria grow faster. Ph can be lowered again by removing the stone/coral after cycled.

scape32xz

oh forgot to ask this from last time
how many shrimps do i need to use for a 26g tank
i have these big jumbo frozen shrimps that i use for fishing

Brimstonepdx

I only used 1 jumbo for my 55 but I imagine it would go faster with 2 or more.