Cycle New Tank

[ladygunn3r]

I have a new tank with a Fluval 2 Plus Filter used, all i need to know is before getting fish what is the best way to cycle the tank.
When i have filled with water do i need to put in the water conditioner now, or just before i get the fish.

How long does it take to do the cycle before putting fish in?

 

[KittyKat]

Dechlorinator sould go in now, as chloramine takes about 1 week to dissipate (unlike chlorine, which is usually gone within 24 hours).

If you want to make your life easier and reduce the possibility of you harming the fish, please do a proper fish-less cycle using household ammonia. There is a lot of information about it available online and in the beginners resource centre on here. I have also been keeping a log of what one can expect from a typical cycle at http/aquariumadventure.wordpress.com/

Fish-in cycles are a lot of hard work, and as someone who has been keeping fish for about 16 years, I really do not recommend you go down that route.

Sitting a tank full of water for x amount of time does not do anything. A fish-less cycle usually takes 4-8 weeks and a fish-in cycle 6-12 weeks, although both can be shorter or longer.

Edit: if the filter is used and has been kept wet, has not come into contact with chlorine/chloramine and if it has not been out of tank with fish for over a few days, then it probably still has some bacteria in it, which probably pretty urgently need to be in a set up tank and some "food" in the form of ammonia.