Fish In To Fishless Cycles

[boringdays]

For those that have read my previous posts, youll see that after setting up a tank I come away from the LFS with 7 new fish to add, being assured they are tough fish and would cycle the tank for me. I then came on here and found all this fishless cycles information. After observing my fish, and having a death, i sent my remaining 6 to stay at a friends.

I now have an API Freshwater Master Test Kit on route to mine ready to assist in the fishless cycle. Can anybody tell me the best way to approach this now? Do I need to refill my tank? Is the water in there ok? Does the ammonia I need to add to the tank come with the API Test Kit? Does the fact my tank is set up with undergravel filters matter? (As people advise to use sponges from an established tank?)

Thanks in advance for those that can help.

 

[mishka83]

Hiya,

Good shout moving the fish away for now

You buy the ammonia in Boots the chemist, it's called household ammonia and is in a white bottle with a red lid, it costs under £2 and absolutely REEKS!!

It's not the actual tank, but the filter that needs to mature. I would be inclined to do a 100% water change, but don't wash the filter media.

Have a look at other fishless cycles on how to go about everything but basically you need to dose ammonia until your water reads 4-5ppm, test your water daily until it drops to zero, then you need the nitrite to drop to zero too.

If you can get some mature media, your cycle will be much quicker.

Good luck!!