20 Gallon Tank: My First tank

Blub · November 2nd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommybaby295

Others, especially JDHEF, have explained this better than I can, but apparently, Cycle contains terrestrial, rather than aquatic bacteria. That means that the bacteria cannot survive without weekly additions of Cycle. It is not a good product to use to cycle your tank. The only known product that is effective is Tetra Safe Start, which can be difficult to find.

I think it is wonderful that you are doing this research first, rather than jumping into it all like I did. I think you should stop adding the product Cycle, and let your tank cycle without fish. If you add an ammonia source, such as fish food or a small piece of raw shrimp, you should have the appropriate readings within a few weeks.

Couldn't agree more. Just for the record; 'the appropriate readings' are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5-20 nitrate.

CakeRevolution · November 3rd, 2009

Well I'll just get a piece of raw fish, and chuck it in the tank, I'll just chuck a decent size in, and do readings after a few days. I don't have fish btw, seems like you seem to have gotten the drift some how.

Thanks for all the stocking ideas blub

Blub · November 3rd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by CakeRevolution

Well I'll just get a piece of raw fish, and chuck it in the tank, I'll just chuck a decent size in, and do readings after a few days. I don't have fish btw, seems like you seem to have gotten the drift some how.

Thanks for all the stocking ideas blub

Anytime Mate.

That sounds like how I cycled my big tank - except I used fish food. Should work alright.

CakeRevolution · November 3rd, 2009

I took a huge, piece of tuna head and put it in a sock, and its just floating around my tank at the moment, when Should I take it out?

jdhef · November 3rd, 2009

You should remove it when your tank finishes cycling and just before adding fish. (But you will want to do a large water change before adding fish.)

CakeRevolution · November 4th, 2009

Ok well I did an ammonia test, and it came out past whats even on my colour chart which is a dark blue green, and the testing colour shows dark blue. So the ammonia is clearly past 10mg/L or 10ppm.

Should I be worried? Leave the sock in?

Thanks a million folks

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