Beginner Setting Up Soon

[sd.clark]

I'm going to get my first tank next week.
Decided on the Juwel Rekord 96.

I've been reading a few books, many tropical fish forums on hints & tips for setting a new tank up.

As far as I've read the best way to cycle a new tank is the fishless way.

But, I've seen in one of my LFS aproduct from Söll called Bactinettes.
Söll Bactinettes

There's threads on this forum about it. Bactinettes
This one ended a year ago. Bactinettes

Does anyone think they are any good?
Would using them to aid the fishless cycle process be any good?

 

[ox5477]

I'm going to get my first tank next week.
Decided on the Juwel Rekord 96.

I've been reading a few books, many tropical fish forums on hints & tips for setting a new tank up.

As far as I've read the best way to cycle a new tank is the fishless way.

But, I've seen in one of my LFS aproduct from Söll called Bactinettes.
Söll Bactinettes

There's threads on this forum about it. Bactinettes
This one ended a year ago. Bactinettes

Does anyone think they are any good?
Would using them to aid the fishless cycle process be any good?

I'm not sure what that stuff is, but I just use pure ammonia to cycle my tank....thats all you need and I'm sure thats what the base is in most of these 'fast start' products.

 

[Squid]

I would consider using it however i did the cycle. Whether with fish or without. Bare in mind that even the bactinettes literature says that there will be a tiny ammonia spike and a small nitrite spike. any trace of either of these is not good..

But.. it would save time waiting for the initial seed of the bacteria and may help speed up the process. I would expect it to be better than the bottled stuff that you get off the shelf. This stuff is kept in the correct conditions in a machine and is dispensed as required..


Give it a go..

Squid

 

[dwarfgourami]

It's supposed to be the UK counterpart to BioSpira- so definitely sounds interesting. BioSpira is supposed to work.

 

[PaPeRo]

Cycle used to be refrigerated.

 

[BigIan]

I personally would use that in conjunction with a fishless cycle,
Use that to seed the tank with bacteria, then build up with ammonia should only take a week or 2 then

 

[sd.clark]

Many thanks for all your comments.

So far what I think I'll do is this, let me know if anyone thinks different.

I'm going to add the bactinettes to the filter to start that off a bit.
But still go for the fishless cycle adding some raw prawns. (Tesco??)
(How about adding some ammonia?? )
Then testing until all ammonia & nitrite are zero.
Hopefully in about 4-6 weeks it will be done.
I'll test everyday and log to an excel file & chart so I can see progress. Or Not.

I won't be adding any fish until fully cycled. Not going to rely on the stuff working properly.

I live in the Ely area and have a few LFS in the region to visit. Only one had the Bactinettes.

Hopefully getting tank next Friday.

I'll report on the progress, if any made.

Also, is it worth getting some plants from either Green Line or Java Plants or just a LFS?

Best size substrate for Cory's too (maybe Panda Cory's). Sandy or fine gravel?
Undergravel Heater? Needed??

More questions later as I think of them.

I'm a total beginner at fish keeping. But I've been reading a few books. Some Interpet ones (4).
Plus about 5+ other forums.

Got a few PFK mags plus one called Tropical Fish which is very hard to get hold of.

I also intend to add a computer battery backup (UPS) device to aid during any power cuts.
What I'd also like is some sort of relay device that operates a battery airpump when power does fail.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Thanks for your comments.


Steve

 

[PaPeRo]

Add the ammonia but don't add the shrimp..possible parasitic eggs/cyst.