Fishless Cycle Questions

[smithy387]

Hi

I am going to start my first fishless cycle on Saturday and after reading through umpteen posts about i still have a couple of questions i have'nt found the anwsers to.

I have a mature tank so i am going to add some filter media from my mature tank to my new tank but will i add the mature media before or after i add the ammonia?

Also when i do a water change with my mature tank, i add stress coat to remove the chlorine from the tap water. When filling up my new tank that i am going to cycle will it be ok to add stress coat to the water?

Thanks

 

[waterdrop]

Hi smithy and welcome to TFF!

Yes, we do recommend that with new fishless cycling tanks that you use a conditioner (to remove chorine/chloramines) per instructed amount or even 1.5x recommended amount in case your water authority has over-chlorinated. I like to recommend Seachem Prime or Amquel+ as probably the best combo of extra features beyond dechlorination for a fishless situation but StressCoat is fine (I've personally used both stresscoat and prime and both have worked.)

I would definately already have and be dosing the ammonia prior to moving the mature media just so that you know the bacteria are being fed. You wouldn't want them to die just because of logistical problems finding the right ammonia or something (finding ammonia can be an adventure!)

~~waterdrop~~