Cycling Question

[mikster]

Hi there, i started cycling my tank last friday, couldnt get any pure ammonia anywhere, there was some household but i heard its got perfums and stuff and i dont know how to remove them.

Instead i just put some flakes of fish food in and some nutrafin cycle(i've heard the use of this is debatable but i got it free with the tank). Been testing the water and the ammonia level is virtually non existant. Is it too early still for ammonia to develop from decay of fish food? do i need to keep adding it?

my PH is 7.6 and my water temp is 81F 27C

 

[dthoffsett]

Never tried the fish food method, but as far as the ammonia goes, the household stuff is fine as long as it doesn't have surfactants as part of the ingredients. If shake the bottle and it foams, you don't want it. If you live in the US, you can pick some up at your local WalMart, the Sams Value stuff is what I use, and it works great. If you're in England, I believe there is a pinned article on where to find some. I would get ammonia if possible, it's far easier to get an accurate amount to add.

 

[geo7x]

If you're in the UK then Homebase should have some called 'household ammonia' or something like that, it should be in the cleaning section.
USA: WalMart
UK: Homebase
Using fish food is risky as you dont know how much to put in really, plus yes, it does let off ammonia, but there has been debate that it lets off other substances which may be dangerous

 

[Mbuna Dave]

Go to any chemist and you should find it,if not ask the seller to get some in for you.I asked mine and he got some in about three days.It is not that hard to get hold of, honest,just ask the shopkeepers.Good luck.

 

[mikster]

thanks guys. i will ask at the chemist next time im there and if they cant get it i will try homebase as theres one not far from where i work.

 

[Stone Warior]

Why the hell do people bother with speeding the cycle. Just have a fish in there and it will do itself. But also buy bacteria and you can speed it up that way.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Why the hell do people bother with speeding the cycle. Just have a fish in there and it will do itself. But also buy bacteria and you can speed it up that way.

Live bacteria (i.e. Biospira or similar) is not available in many countries. The non-refrigerated stuff you buy in the UK is pretty worthless. Never seen any Bactinette round my way.

The main reason a lot of us have gone over to fishless cycling with ammonia is that it takes the stress off the starter fish. I set up my first tank over 30 years ago, but I am not yet too old and decrepit to learn new methods; anything that is conceivably more humane and I shall be happy to try it. But then of course, I don't keep partridges in my tank

 

[mikster]

Got some of that homebase ammonia and a pippette. Going to start cycling later after ive re-read the cycling posts. Yeah i would prefer to pre cycle im tank without any fish on various grounds, one i dont fancy my fish dieing (fair enough this might not happen as alot of people just stick the fish in and they dont die) but secondly it isnt very nice for them and i dont fancy doing water changes and everything every day just to make sure they dont suffer or anything. im the kind of person that likes to plan ahead and get things right before hand, im not in the slightest bit bothered about waiting a few weeks for fish.

Interesting topic though, sure it will be debated for many years to come.