Cycling My Tank

[Alex1110]

I havnt got it yet, but i have some questions.

As you all probably know, the fish store guys dont suggest doing fishless cycling, but I want to. I asked at a couple of places if they would give me some filter media and they said i shouldnt, because it could introduce disease into my tank. I dont understand why this would be, because surely it would come out of the tanks they are selling their fish in?

Anyway, I think its going to be difficult to tell the fish guys I want to do it my way, when they know more about fish than me and can use that to persuade me otherwise. I think I wont be able to get any filter media to help me with this. I know it doesnt matter, just makes the cycling go faster. They offered me some bacteria in a bottle, and something called bio spira or something. Is this stuff any good?

I am from Australia (Perth) and I dont know anybody else who keeps fish. If I add ammonia (ammonia chloride?) where can I get it from? (any aussies?).

And also, when I cycle the tank, do I have everything set up, plants and all? so all I need to do is add fish?

 

[catxx]

you can have your tank entirely set up, minus the fish, during the cycle. you'll need gravel/sand whatever your substrate will be, in there anyway.

do you have any friends or neighbours with tanks you can pinch gravel or filter media off of? if the LFS are being awkward about it, that might be easier.

the LFS doesn't want you to do a fishless cycle because they want you to buy fish NOWNOWNOW. biospira type things can help, but filter media is better, or pure ammonia is another method.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[Alex1110]

Thanks for the reply catxx.

Nah i dont know anybody who has a tropical fish tank. I know someone with a goldfish tank though?

Pure ammonina? i read somewhere that you cna use ammonia chloride because it dissociates to form the ammonia and also chlorine, which can be removed by using a conditioner. That may have been from this site, but i have read so much stuff i dont know where it all was!

Anyway, if someone from australia can point me in the direction to get an ammonia source that would be good!