hssea

I set up a 20 gal yesterday with sand. Ran the filter during the night and all is clear this morning. Here are my plans for fishless cycling, please add any advice

1. raise temp to 82
2. I've place an internal filter in another tank and will "seed" the new tank with that filter. The tank i'll be removing the extra filter is only a 2.5 (with a upgraded HOB filter in it) will that cause a mini cycle when i remove the filter for the new tank?
3.I'm planning on taking out 1 swordtail from an existing tank to place in the new tank. I figure with a pH of 8.0 using i fish already acclimated to my water will be less stressful
4.Question: at what point should I add this fish? How long can the nitrates live in the new tank without a supply of ammonia?

Shawnie

great job on a FISHLESS cycle...whahoooooooooo!! awesome on the filter also...it will move it along just nicely...just throw a peice of raw shrimp and do a daily water change of 15%-25% and give it time...patience is the biggest thing to learn...then when you test your water, ammonia at 0, nitrite at 0, and nitrates 10-20, you will be done! going fishless is an awesome way of not hurting any fish...goodluck!

susitna-flower

Even better than using raw fish, or shrimp would be if you would find some 100% ammonia and use that.....

It has to be 100%, if you shake the bottle, no bubbles! This can be a bit hard to find, but I believe ACE hardware carries it.

The other ways of a fishless cycle take a little time, but if you follow the suggestions in fishlores nitrogen cycle article, which is under "ARTICLES" at the top of this page, it tells just what to do.

By using the filter that is seeded it should speed right along with 100% ammonia.....

PLEASE don't use a fish, it is very hard on the fish, and will actually not go as quickly.

Angela_96

I agree w/ the seeded filter. and not using any fish at all it is really hard on the fish, any trace amounts of nitrites and/or ammonia stresses fish out.

hssea

i called our ace hardware they don't carry 100% ammonia (its a very small Ace store, we live in a small city). i added a little fish food to the tank. Should i add food every day I plan a picking up a shrimp next trip to the grocery store.

Shawnie

Hi hssea ..yes on adding food daily, but only a very lil bit is needed ....hows everything going with it so far?