wonton55912

hi i want to fishless cycle until nitrite. i dont want to spend this. how do you do it with fish food?

ryanr

First, congrat's on fishless cycling!!!

Well some simple chemistry... When food (or flesh) rots, it creates ammonia as by-product.
You can read http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm for what happens next, but essentially, the rotting food creates the ammonia source for bacteria.

You could also spend about $3 on PURE ammonia to start your cycle [Very Important that it is pure ammonia, without any detergents, there's more info in the forums about this)

Thus your cycle starts

HTH

aquarist48

Four Methods of Fish Less Cycling

Good morning. You may find the above link helpful.
Ken

Treefork

I read a long time ago about some guy trying to fishless cycle by urinating into the tank. I don't remember whether or not it worked, but, well it was interesting.

aquarist48

Good morning,

I don't recommend the option in post #4. There are other more pleasant ways to cycle your tank

Ken

Lucy

I think it's great that you're going to cycle with out fish.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say you want to cycle until nitrite.
Nitrites are toxic to fish.
A completed cycle will have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites with some nitrates showing.
Ewww, definatly not recommended.

David C

Urinating in a tank is possible, but not recommended. We excrete more than just pure ammonia in our urine which depending on your diet, could possibly be bad for your tank. Plus, the amount of ammonia excreted each time varies making it virtually impossible to accurately gauge how much would need to be added each day. I use a few cocktail shrimp, its cheap and works every time.

Dave

Treefork

I guess I forgot to put in the disclaimer that though it was interesting it didn't seem like a viable idea.

wonton55912

my frog will take over when i get to the nitrites

Lucy

Why subject him to nitrite poisoning? It'll be easier on him to just finish the cycle without him.

wonton55912

i am doing it differently now. i use some gravel from my old tank and the decorations. i will also add a cycle booster product that came with my tank. i didn't know nitites were poisinous to frogs.

Shawnie

ammonia/nitrites are deadly to all living aquatic animals......I agree to cycle first your froggie will be much better
what cycle booster came with the tank? the only one thats dependable and works well is tetra safestart and they dont send samples usually with the fish tanks...could it be the water conditioner that came with the tank?

wonton55912

the product is called stresszyme. its from API. it says bacteria booster.

Shawnie

stress zyme is a bacteria that needs to be added for ever....and wont sustain a proper cycle ...and it will give you false readings on your test kit...if you cant find tetra safestart, id just stick with the food for a few weeks until the tanks cycled....or you can add a small piece of raw shrimp and wait for the cycle to complete....that way you dont have the wasted food to clean up....put the shrimp into a small nylon bag and just let it hang in the tank....you will only need a small amount for that size tank.....also crank up the heater as warmer water cycles faster.....have patience and things will be great!

wonton55912

oh