Will my cycle plan work?

[TimeHalt]

After setting up my tank, I'm planning to:
1. Add Prime
2. Wait 24 hours
3. Add half a bottle of my TSS
4. Start adding daily doses of Fritz Ammonium

While doing so, of course continuously checking my levels.
Are any of these things unnecessary to add? I've gotten so many different opinions from research and I really need some guidance.

 

[jdavi]

I don't know about if the cycling will work (i'm still learning), but how many gallons is your tank? also, you can look for threads about cycling with fritz and see if there's anything. good luck!

 

[TimeHalt]

I don't know about if the cycling will work (i'm still learning), but how many gallons is your tank? also, you can look for threads about cycling with fritz and see if there's anything. good luck!

10 gallons, and ok will do thanks.

 

[Rev]

Those bacteria bottles have been of great debate on here. I've used some of the dr tims stuff myself. Really don't know if it makes a difference. That seems to be the general consensus. Nobody knows. If you got it try it. With that said whenever I've started my cycle I add my dechlorinator, add the bacteria if I'm using any, and then the ammonia. I haven't waited around. Maybe 5 minutes between the bacteria and ammonia. But no real reason to wait I don't think. My one thing is I wouldn't add ammonia every day. From what I've heard too much ammonia can slow your cycle process. I like to add 2ppm ammonia at a time. Every time it drops below 1ppm ammonia I add 2 ppm. Once my ammonia and nitrite can go from 2ppm of the ammonia to 0 in 24 hours I'm cycled. Takes 3-4 weeks but only cycled 2 tanks that's all I have so take it with a grain of salt. Also it saves a bit of ammonia for future cycling.

 

[TimeHalt]

Those bacteria bottles have been of great debate on here. I've used some of the dr tims stuff myself. Really don't know if it makes a difference. That seems to be the general consensus. Nobody knows. If you got it try it. With that said whenever I've started my cycle I add my dechlorinator, add the bacteria if I'm using any, and then the ammonia. I haven't waited around. Maybe 5 minutes between the bacteria and ammonia. But no real reason to wait I don't think. My one thing is I wouldn't add ammonia every day. From what I've heard too much ammonia can slow your cycle process. I like to add 2ppm ammonia at a time. Every time it drops below 1ppm ammonia I add 2 ppm. Once my ammonia and nitrite can go from 2ppm of the ammonia to 0 in 24 hours I'm cycled. Takes 3-4 weeks but only cycled 2 tanks that's all I have so take it with a grain of salt. Also it saves a bit of ammonia for future cycling.

Interesting to know, thanks. The reason that I want to wait 24 hours after adding Prime is because I have read in many places that you are not supposed to add TSS or any bacteria after using a dechlorinator (like Prime) until at least 24 hours have passed.. because it messes with it or something.

 

[Rev]

I've always just thought that that was more of a suggestion but you're welcome to wait 24 hours and see if it helps. I mean you're going to have beneficial bacteria in the tank eventually and you'll add dechlorinator for water changes so idk how much it really affects it. But really it can't hurt to wait.

 

[flyinGourami]

Interesting to know, thanks. The reason that I want to wait 24 hours after adding Prime is because I have read in many places that you are not supposed to add TSS or any bacteria after using a dechlorinator (like Prime) until at least 24 hours have passed.. because it messes with it or something.

I don't think you have to wait 24 hours, since a lot of people use tss and prime while doing a fish IN cycle, and have had no problems. I think people say this since they think prime gets rid of ammonia, which means the bacteria won't have a food source. It doesn't, it binds ammonia and turns it into ammonium(according to seachem and almost all hobbyists lol). In fact, if it does bind it into ammonium that is beneficial to the bacteria as ammonium is easier for them to consume.

 

[Mongo75]

I know some of the bottled bacteria (don't remember which ones) say wait 24 hours after adding your dechlorinator. If the instructions say wait, then I would wait.

It's also true that there is no consensus on whether or not, they work. The arguments against using them are they aren't necessary, and they can cause your water parameter readings to show readings all over the charts.

I've always used them, and have never had any flaky reading on my water parameters, and whether they work or not, it gives me a good feeling .

 

[Rcslade124]

My experience with 4 tanks. Fish in cycle bottle bacteria are great used it on 2. Two week cycle. Fishless cycle it shaves a week off the original time of 4-6weks. Took me about 4 weeks fishless and bacteria in a bottle. Took me 5 weeks just pure ammonia

 

[Lebeeze]

Whenever I've cycled tanks all I do is put a piece of raw shrimp in a mesh bag and throw it right in the tank. I've cycled 3 tanks this way and it went perfectly everytime. No need to worry about how much ammonia to add etc...

To each there own though so just cycle it the way you feel is best for you .

 

[Betta02]

I don't add anything but ammonia when cycling a tank without fish. This takes a long time, haven't tried the bacteria in a bottle stuff. I did recently cycle my last tank adding media from another cycled tank. Reduced cycling time in half at least.

 

[TimeHalt]

My experience with 4 tanks. Fish in cycle bottle bacteria are great used it on 2. Two week cycle. Fishless cycle it shaves a week off the original time of 4-6weks. Took me about 4 weeks fishless and bacteria in a bottle. Took me 5 weeks just pure ammonia

But never tried bacteria + ammonia together?

 

[Rcslade124]

Yes one of my tanks I used ammonia and bacteria. I think the large doage of ammonia overwhelm the bacteria so it took about 4 weeks. I think if you add small amounts of ammonia through the day it might work better. So if you need 6ml of ammonia do 4 at 1.5 per day so your bacteria slowly consumes it