A Poor Mans Fishless Cycle?

[clareriley]

I overheard 2 men in my lfs talking about cycling a new tank.

one said to the other if you cant afford to buy the fish just so they can die then get a piece of bacon plop it in with the heat high... leave it for 2 weeks, take it out. leave it for a week. test the water, if ok then vacume the gravel, do a water change and hey presto.. better than all that polave about adding liquid amonia...

im like wtf.. but is there some truth to this?

 

[dgwebster]

there is some truth in that the bacon will decompose and give off ammonia. but its rather crap, add ammonia properly - cleaner and much more controlled.

 

[Nippyfish]

I overheard 2 men in my lfs talking about cycling a new tank.

one said to the other if you cant afford to buy the fish just so they can die then get a piece of bacon plop it in with the heat high... leave it for 2 weeks, take it out. leave it for a week. test the water, if ok then vacume the gravel, do a water change and hey presto.. better than all that polave about adding liquid amonia...

im like wtf.. but is there some truth to this?

That's really funny because a pack of bacon costs as much as starter fish while a gallon of ammonia is about 99¢.

Some people do a fishless cycle with fish food but that's a lot more expensive then ammonia too and harder to regulate.

 

[phlawed]

Sorry just read Poor mans Fishless Cycle so thought someone was pissing in the tank agian

 

[Teelie]

Bacon would decompose and give off more than just ammonia. It'd be safer just peeing in the tank.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

bacon has fatty stuff in there. wouldnt you rather just eat the bacon and take a piss in there?

 

[Teelie]

It's high in nitrites too IIRC.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

some people do use prawns

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

It's high in nitrites too IIRC.

If this is true and it gives off nitrites right away then it could possibly cut short the cycling time a little right? Because the nitrite-eating bacteria would start forming right away along with the ammonia-eating bacteria.

Still probably safer to use pure ammonia, or even better just get a bunch of filter catridges or bio wheels from a mature tank.

 

[Teelie]

I thought of that too but the benefit is lost by the fact it's basically rotting meat which will invite less desirable bacteria to colonize as well.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

mmmm, moldy bacon

 

[wendywc]

How about using a few big snails to cycle a tank? I would think that snails are much hardier.