Cycling

[r.w.girard]

I was thinking about starting up a new 5 gallon tank soon and I was wondering what they best way to start [and finish] the ammonia cycle. I am planning on buying a little "kit" which will come with Hagen Nutrafin "Cycle" but I was wondering if it would be better just to use ammonia. I am in no hurry to get the fish in, it is not that. I just don't know much about it, I suppose. It seems strange that it could "colonize" the tank with "beneficial bacteria" before there is anything of the bacteria to feed on. I want to make sure it is "right" before I put anything in.

In fact, I am now wondering ... I use it generally as an additive when I do water changes. Is that worth it? Any ideas?

Anyway, I am planning on putting old filter media from my established tank into the new tank's filter to help colonize [I just realized that "colonate" is not a word ... hm] the new tank. All well before I put in any fish. In which case, is any of it necessary?

So questions:
1. Is ammonia or Nutrafin "Cycle" better to cycle a 5 gallon tank ?
2. And with colonized filter media ?
... and ...
3. Should I use Nutrafin "Cycle" when doing routine water changes ?

 

[KittyKat]

Does Nutrafin Cycle even have any ammonia in it? The only benefit I can see of using it would be that it *may* have some minerals which could encourage the bacterial growth.

If you only seed the filter with old media, and plant the tank, it is safe to add one or two fish and gradually increase the numbers, adding 1-2 small fish per week (for a tank that size), but if you want to stock fully in one go, or are not as keen on plants as me, it is best to seed and then cycle. For example, if you are going only for a Betta, I imagine that 1-2 ppm of ammonia would be more than enough to prepare the tank for only one fish.

 

[OldMan47]

I have tried to use the Cycle product but had no success with it. My best results have always come from using bacteria in an existing filter to jump start a new filter and then do a quick, often less than a week, fishless cycle on the tank. An extreme way to say it, but a way I have stated often in the past, is to use my new tank as a cleaning bucket for an existing filter. the end result is that some beneficial bacteria are dislodged and come to rest in the new filter. Since the bacteria can typically reproduce at a rate that doubles their population each day, it doesn't take long to get a fully functional filter with a nice start like that.

 

[Randi]

I had success using Nutrafin cycle AND ammonia. I added the cycle product as directed and used pure ammonia to bring my levels up to 4ppm. Cycle was complete in 12 days. NOT the 48 hours they promise of the bottle, but still pretty fast. However, I think that Cycle is for adding bacteria when you do not have another source. If you have some used filter media you probably don't need it.

 

[JoshuaA]

I've not been on this forum all that long compared to many other people and well I've seen countless times there are so many mixed reviews regarding these products. In some cases people who have tried it say it was great or at least they believe they noticed a difference. More of the time I noticed people put these products down without actually trying them, I for one don't feel the "Risk" involved in paying the extortionate amount it costs is fair if the product is unproven and might not make a difference.

Great to see your success but as with everything there are so many various factors, it could be down to something like you have so much bacteria in your water supply already that to form a large colony on your filter media merely took days. I guess the only true way to test these products effectiveness is to ensure there is no bacteria at all introduced to the tank and then try a fish-less cycle. Though I have read some companies advertising that these don't only introduce bacteria but introduce vital nutrients bacteria need to develop and reproduce quickly.

I guess we'll never know the truth... for now

Edit: What OldMan said has worked for me on numerous filters, however I also add a small amount of media into the filter as well. I "feel" that the cleaning of the sponge in the tank allows the bacteria to adhere to as many surfaces as possible within the filter better than shoving some used media in there on its own.