Easy Approach To A Fishless Cycle? Ive Had An Idea?

[mattbond]

would it be possible to just add a reasonably large amount of ammonia to a tank and then leave it for 3 weeks before adding plants and fish?

would the filter still be able to cycle properly with that?

 

[youngfisher]

I dont think this would work.
Sounds to easy to me.
I could be wrong though.

YF

 

[ZomZom]

I've read that ammonia concentrations over 8 ppm encourage the growth of the wrong type of bacteria.

 

[Geoff1991]

At 8ppm and above of ammonia, the wrong type of bacteria starts to out compete the type of bacteria you're trying to grow.

 

[mattbond]

right so if i added ammonia for a concentration of 6ppm, then left it, would the filter be cycled after say 3 weeks?

 

[Geoff1991]

Nope, the ammonia would be processed in a couple of days and then the bacteria would start to die off.

And processing 6ppm of ammonia in a couple of weeks doesnt cycle your tank. You need to monitor your ammonia levels and dose it up to 4-5ppm every time it drops to zero. When your tank has processed 5ppm of ammonia down to zero ammonia and zero nitrite in 12 hours every day for a week, your tank has cycled.

 

[mattbond]

do plants contribute to ammonia at all?

 

[chesterscot]

yeah plants add to it as they start to rot/die off
scot

 

[backtotropical]

do plants contribute to ammonia at all?

yeah plants add to it as they start to rot/die off
scot

They also use it as their primary food source when they are alive and well. In effect, they compete with the bacteria for the ammonia (depending on how many plants you have obviously).

It is possible to set up a tank with no filter, just lots of plants, as they remove all the ammonia and no nitrite is produced.