Fishless Cycle ... Quick Advice Needed

[Quasimodoand]

Hi

Tried to find the answer to this but couldn't see it elsewhere. Just awating arrival of our first tank and we're complete novices so please be gentle. Having read what seems like hundreds of posts and websites I'd like to do the fishless cycle. However I have no access to any established tanks (filters to be more specific) and since we're in the uk i can't find any Bio-Spira. what are our alternatives??

Regards

Andy

 

[Prime Ordeal]

All you need to fishless cycle (good choice by the way) is to set up your tank and run it in for 24-48 hours just to make sure everything works and there's no leaks (and use a dechlorinator like API Tap Water Conditioner, not one that binds ammonia - like Seachem Prime, in the water). Then you need a liquid test kit, the API one is a good compromise between cost and performance (cheaper on eBay, search API freshwater master kit), and then you need a bottle of ammonia. The ammonia can be bought from Homebase, Boots (order online, deliver to store), or eBay (Jeyes Kleen Off). You'll also need a small syringe, again available from Boots or eBay, 1ml size, to add the ammonia. And that's it, you're ready to go.

There's more to it after that, of course, but we can get to that when you've set up for a couple of days. In the mean time read the cycling information in the beginners section.

 

[CezzaXV]

tbh, you don't really need to do the 24-48 hour waiting thing before adding ammonia. Yes, it'll make sure there are no leaks, but if it does leak (unlikely), it makes no difference whether there's ammonia in the water or not.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle. Myself and others recommend Prime as it's so much more concentrated than other brands. A little goes a long way and it'll save you alot of money in the long run.

 

[the_lock_man]

tbh, you don't really need to do the 24-48 hour waiting thing before adding ammonia. Yes, it'll make sure there are no leaks, but if it does leak (unlikely), it makes no difference whether there's ammonia in the water or not.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle. Myself and others recommend Prime as it's so much more concentrated than other brands. A little goes a long way and it'll save you alot of money in the long run.

+1 Can't argue with with that!

 

[snake007]

Hi

Tried to find the answer to this but couldn't see it elsewhere. Just awating arrival of our first tank and we're complete novices so please be gentle. Having read what seems like hundreds of posts and websites I'd like to do the fishless cycle. However I have no access to any established tanks (filters to be more specific) and since we're in the uk i can't find any Bio-Spira. what are our alternatives??

Regards

Andy

Where are you based in the uk?

 

[the_lock_man]

Do I remember right that Tetra bought the rights to Birospira, and it's now Tetra Safe Start?

 

[snazy]

Do I remember right that Tetra bought the rights to Birospira, and it's now Tetra Safe Start?

I think so.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle.

I thought nitrosomonas can only consume ammonia(NH3) and not ammonium (NH+4). Therefore using a dechlorinator that binds ammonia to ammonium will slow the fishless cycle.
It's only good when there are fish in the tank, and the tap water contains ammonia, otherwise there is no point.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

tbh, you don't really need to do the 24-48 hour waiting thing before adding ammonia. Yes, it'll make sure there are no leaks, but if it does leak (unlikely), it makes no difference whether there's ammonia in the water or not.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle. Myself and others recommend Prime as it's so much more concentrated than other brands. A little goes a long way and it'll save you alot of money in the long run.

You (and the lock man) couldn't be more wrong if you were Mr and Mrs Wrong from Wrong Land!

First, who said anything about waiting 24-48 hours to add the dechlorinator?

Second, dechlorinators do not convert ammonia to ammonium. They bind it into a molecule which is definitely harder to process by the nitrifying bacteria and will delay the cycle. Hence my suggestion to use the API dechlorinator which does not bind ammonia. Prime is indeed the choice of dechlorinator, but only after the cycle has finished.

You really should be careful when parroting things you learn on forums. They very often aren't true!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Do I remember right that Tetra bought the rights to Birospira, and it's now Tetra Safe Start?

They bought the rights to the patent, I believe, but Tetra Safe Start isn't Bio Spira.

 

[Tizer]

its still just as useless though ;D

 

[Prime Ordeal]

its still just as useless though ;D

Have you cycled with it?

 

[Tizer]

nar, i've got enough mature media to fill an ethiopian families back yard

 

[the_lock_man]

tbh, you don't really need to do the 24-48 hour waiting thing before adding ammonia. Yes, it'll make sure there are no leaks, but if it does leak (unlikely), it makes no difference whether there's ammonia in the water or not.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle. Myself and others recommend Prime as it's so much more concentrated than other brands. A little goes a long way and it'll save you alot of money in the long run.

You (and the lock man) couldn't be more wrong if you were Mr and Mrs Wrong from Wrong Land!

First, who said anything about waiting 24-48 hours to add the dechlorinator?

Second, dechlorinators do not convert ammonia to ammonium. They bind it into a molecule which is definitely harder to process by the nitrifying bacteria and will delay the cycle. Hence my suggestion to use the API dechlorinator which does not bind ammonia. Prime is indeed the choice of dechlorinator, but only after the cycle has finished.

You really should be careful when parroting things you learn on forums. They very often aren't true!

An answer full of provocation, there.

No-one said anything said anything about waiting 24-48 hours to add dechlor. You didn't. Cezza didn't. If I'm parroting something, I at least make sure I'm parroting what has actually been said.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

tbh, you don't really need to do the 24-48 hour waiting thing before adding ammonia. Yes, it'll make sure there are no leaks, but if it does leak (unlikely), it makes no difference whether there's ammonia in the water or not.

Secondly, it really doesnt matter whether the dechlorinator you use will bind ammonia. All it does is convert it to ammonium, which is less toxic for fish but still fully consumable by the bacteria you're trying to breed and won't make a bit of difference to your cycle. Myself and others recommend Prime as it's so much more concentrated than other brands. A little goes a long way and it'll save you alot of money in the long run.

+1 Can't argue with with that!

This is what you said Lock man. So you agree fully with caezza's wrong information. The 24-48hr thing is the trivial part, as you well know, it's the completely wrong statement about the dechlorinator that's important. I notice you said nothing about that. Quick to agree but not so quick to back up your opinions.

 

[Tizer]

You dont have to use any dechlorinators for a fishless cycle, especially if you leave it 24 hours to gas off so you can go straight for a bottle of Prime if its costs that you want to keep low.