Complete Newbie

[SJ2K]

Just add the ammonia, bacteria will add itself

 

[thelostprophet]

Oh right cool!

Where does the bacteria come from if im not adding it then?

Would it hurt to add some of the bacteria ive got seen as i have about 300ml of it.

Also im now looking at about 3-4 weeks for my size tank to be ready?

 

[SJ2K]

Bacteria is already there, it in the water from the tap most people who fishless cycle add only dechlor and ammonia, no need for bottled stuff.

If you want to use it up, pour it in, just dont expect it help give yourself 4 to 8 weeks, its slow but easy.

 

[thelostprophet]

Oooooh...im a very impatient person and i was looking forward to fish next week lol....

Ahwel.

What would happen IF i was to add some hardy fish next week?

 

[SJ2K]

They might survive if your lucky, personly i went down the same impatient route and it wasnt a fun one, the only fish you can add are 2/3 less interesting ones, waiting weeks with daily water changes. Not worth it.

 

[thelostprophet]

Well i suppose most LFS are going to be closed over the next 2 weeks or so....so now its a good time to get a fishless cycle going and besides i dont have the money to keep replacing dead fish if it doesnt work.

So pure ammonia i can get in Boots?

Will the bacteria still be alive in the water now though? I know you said it comes in the tap water but seens as its had nothing to feed on for 4 days will it still be in there?

 

[vinylman]

Well i suppose most LFS are going to be closed over the next 2 weeks or so....so now its a good time to get a fishless cycle going and besides i dont have the money to keep replacing dead fish if it doesnt work.

So pure ammonia i can get in Boots?

Will the bacteria still be alive in the water now though? I know you said it comes in the tap water but seens as its had nothing to feed on for 4 days will it still be in there?

Is there absolutely no chance of getting some mature media?.

 

[Mikaila31]

I'm not sure what brand is recommended over there, but you want ammonia with no perfumes or surfactants(soaps). Look on the bottle for a ingredients list. It should only say pure ammonia. Also shake the bottle, if it foams up then it is no good. Try grocery stores and hardware stores.

I have always been under the impression that the bacteria enters the tank through the air, I think the chlorines in the tap water would kill them .

I agree with vinylman, try to get some mature filter media. This is filter media(sponges, floss, gravel) from a established tank. A petstores or friends tank that has been setup for a couple months will work. Since these tanks have been setup with fish for a couple months, they have already gone through their cycles. So there is a large amount of bacteria present in the filter media. If you take some of this filter media and put it into your filter in will jump start your tank, by introducing a large amount of bacteria. Then you need to feed it ammonia, the best option would be to follow the fishless cycle instructions given to you. Add ammonia until you tank can process 4 to 5 ppm of ammonia in about 12 hrs. When doing this you want to make sure the mature filter media doesn't dry out, this will kill the bacteria. So transport it with dechlorinated water. Also transport it quickly, bacteria will start to starve after a hour with no ammonia. And don't let the ammonia in your tank get over 6ppm, as this will stall the cycle and the bacteria will die.

good luck,
Mikaila31

P.S. Vinylman congrats on your 1000 post

 

[rabbut]

Well i suppose most LFS are going to be closed over the next 2 weeks or so....so now its a good time to get a fishless cycle going and besides i dont have the money to keep replacing dead fish if it doesnt work.

So pure ammonia i can get in Boots?

Will the bacteria still be alive in the water now though? I know you said it comes in the tap water but seens as its had nothing to feed on for 4 days will it still be in there?

Yes boots do pure ammonia, will post a pic of the bottle you need, so you know what you are looking for, once I have internet and camera software back on my laptop. Bactiria enter from a number of sources, the air, water and mature media being the most common. Have a look in the pinned topic for mature media, see if you can find anyone neer to you that is on the donations list. If you are near or in Leeds, I have some available. I usualy ask for a little donation for the media though, as it costs money (sumething I'm short on ATM) works out at about 50p a foam in my filters.

HTH
rabbut

 

[alliersv]

Whereabouts are you in the UK?
If you are a bit more specific you may get some offers of mature media.
I could spare you some if you wanted. I'm on Cambs/Norfolk border.

 

[thelostprophet]

Im in surrey. Maybe i should post in the sticky thread for media.