Cycle Without Fish With Tts - Step By Step

Hello everyone,
I am sure there are numerous threads about cycling the tank, and maybe in some of them there is the information that I need, but I was not bale to find it browsing the forum.

I would like to start cycling my tank without fish, using only TTS.
1. is it possible to successfully do that?
2. How long would it take?
3. ( and the most important) What are the steps that I should take? ( As a math person with no previous experience in cycling a tank, I would need step-by step directions with precise quantities and time)

Here is my tank:
7.5 gallon tank
Filter ( Aquatop / Forza 5-15)
Heater (Hydor...)
gravel
live plants and plastic plants
air pump
magnet to clean the glass
Prime for de-chlorination

I do not have a kit to test for ammonia / nitrates / nitrites . Currently I cannot buy one. I plant to, in 2 month but I want to start the cycling now.

I will not bring the betta until the cylcing is over.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

I cycled my five-gallon tank with just TSS. I didn't test the parameters to find out how high the ammonia was getting. If you can get pure liquid ammonia from a hardware store (no fragrances or other additives) you can use that to feed the bacteria. If not, just drop in some betta pellets or other fish food. As it rots, it will produce ammonia that will feed the bacteria and cycle your tank.
I had my cycling for a few weeks before I touched (mostly cause I was at unI and the LFS took a while to get to by bus/walking)

I would say two weeks is the minimum amount of time it would take. Take a sample to your local pet store and they'll test it for you. You should have zero ammonia and nitrites but you should have a readable amount of nitrates. The heater should speed the process along

 

Try this for help...
Tetra Safe Start used in fishless cycling

Also, under “More Advanced? Aquarium Topics” choose “Water” and then “Cycling”. Sorry these aren’t exactly the right names... I am tired.

 

It will be challenging to do a fishless cycle without a test kit.

The process is to add ammonia to 2ppm-4ppm. How do you do that if you don’t know what your ammonia level is?

How do you know when it’s cycled?

I would buy a test kit before i’d Buy a fish.

But you could add the fish and do 50% water changes 2Xs a week and your fish will be fine (betta) and your cycle may start.

Just my opinion.

 

It will be challenging to do a fishless cycle without a test kit.

But you could add the fish and do 50% water changes 2Xs a week and your fish will be fine (betta) and your cycle may start.

Just my opinion.

Thank you. I did that. I brought the fish on Sunday and now (Wednesday) he seems very happy: eats everything I give him ( 5 pallets once a day), swims all over the tank all the time, and already made bubbles. I plan to change some water tomorrow. It's a koi plakate

 

I freaking love koi plakats. I have three right now; one male and two females. Definitely take pics. They grow into their color and I always love seeing what they looked like before

 

I freaking love koi plakats. I have three right now; one male and two females. Definitely take pics. They grow into their color and I always love seeing what they looked like before

I'll try but he moves too much and I do not have a DSLR camera. Maybe tomorrow when I feed him again. He isquite beautiful - at least to me.

I freaking love koi plakats. I have three right now; one male and two females. Definitely take pics. They grow into their color and I always love seeing what they looked like before

QUESTION: If I run the water filter all the time, do I need an air pump? He lives in a 7.5 gall tank with heater and live plants.

 

Not necessary IMO. The air pump will only increase surface agitation. Unless you think your filter isn't giving you enough surface agitation, I wouldn't add one

 

This is the best I could do
His name is Crazy Orlaf

 

This is the best I could do
His name is Crazy Orlaf

What a pretty tank set up!