Fishless Cycling

[pcmthmes19]

I just brought home my new 55 gal tank, gravel/landscaping/cannister filter/heater/test kit/etc. I went to the four main LFS here in Boise Idaho USA, and every single one of them said they had never heard of fishless cycling and it wouldn't work, and one upon hearing I got it off the internet, suggested it was a hoax. I would have figured at least one of them would have at least heard of this. Just how new is fishless cycling? Is it controversial? Or just cutting edge? I had thought from what I've read here over the last 2 weeks that it was unanimously considered the best method to use. Is it?

I was all set to try the "Add Daily" method. I haven't had an aquarium for about 30 years, but can follow instructions; is that all I need?

 

[Captain Retardo]

What does LFS exactly stand for anyway? (Im a newbie)

 

[SirMinion]

What does LFS exactly stand for anyway? (Im a newbie)

Local Fish Store
or
Local Fish Shop

depending on where in the world you come from.

 

[Captain Retardo]

Oh, that is what i was actually thinking!

 

[FBF]

welcome to the world of fish keeping, well youve learnt a good Lesson there.

in general fish shop workers are very low paid idiots that didnt get a good job..... they rarely have much training and a lot of the time can be under pressure to sell fish rather than advise. and even when they do advise its mostly wrong. i would advise you always do your own research or ask on a forum, that way you will get all the views on something. (thats not to say there are people on forums who will give you the right advise, ive seen people telling others that goldfish will eat hamburgers and that its good for them!!!!!!!)

(ok i know there will be a few fish shop workers on the forum about to scream that they are good at the job they do, and there are some and if they are on here then yes they probably know or at least take an intrest in the job)

but in the main thats not the case.

fishless cycling is very new about ten years or so. and anyone that knows about keeping fish has heard of it. if i were you id keep asking employees about it and when one of them says "yes i know about that..." then you may have found a worker you can begin to trust with questions.

it is the best method as you dont have to put the fish in danger while the tank cycles.

hope this answers your question.

 

[pcmthmes19]

Thanks for the reassurance. The part of fishless cycling that had me nervous was that if I screw it up, then I put ALL my fish at risk, so when I couldn't rustle up any local knowledge and since I once cycled the old way, my confidence was starting to slide.

The other thing LFS tried to talk me out of was needing sand for Kuhli Loaches and I admit I was talked into getting some gravel, which I will now take back tomorrow and put off they cycling for one more day to get everything set up just right.

 

[Squid]

Thumbs up for fishless cycling for me at the moment.

I have just finished a fishless cycle using the add and wait method..

I added fish yesterday morning, and the nitrites and ammonia are still 0 this morning. Lets hope it stays that way. I added about 60-70% of the fish. The bio-load of the tank is prepared for this amount by doing the fishless cycle..

I can understand why you are worried, but basically, if the tank cant cycle the ammonia your adding within 12 hours, dont add the fish

I had a few hiccups though, and it was a learning experience. With questions like:

Wheres that furry brown algae come from.... was only there for part of the cycle!

What are those white parasite things on the wood... harmless things i have been told.. the fish will eat them.

Why has the tank uncycled a bit... Nitrates or KH changes caused the PH to crash and halted the cycle.. did some water changes.. then was ok.. happened twice.

So, after a long wait, the fish look happy and fine, with perfect stats so far...

Cheers
Squid

 

[FBF]

dont fear cycling the "old way" im of the opinion that if done correctly its fine as a method. i think most people just try to rush things and make more problems than they need. a large volume of water with only 2-3 fish used to cycle is ideal.

 

[bogwood]

dont fear cycling the "old way"

I disagree... until your tank has established the beneficial bacteria it needs to remove the constantly produced Am and Ni, any fish in there 'will' suffer... you may not see any physical signs but things such as permanent gill damage and shorter lifespan can be a result of too high levels of 'nastys' in the water... we have a responsibility to do all we can to ensure our fish our as healthy as possible... they may be cheap and easily replaceable but (imo) thats no excuse for seeing them as 'disposable'...

as humans, we 'can' survive in sh*tty, poor quality air, but its not ideal... and it effects our health... same with fish...

im of the opinion that if done correctly its fine as a method

How can putting the fish under stress when doing a cycle 'with fish' be called a 'fine' method?...

 

[thefirethief]

I too had the same problem. I went into my LFS to get some stuff, told the guy about dosing ammonia and he looked at me like I was an idiot. Told me not to believe everything I read on the internet and pretty much laughed in my face. He was ugly so it was ok.

 

[pcmthmes19]

Well, I commtted to the fishless cycle, but after spending a couple hours calling every store I could think of (hardware, pharmacy, Walmart, grocery, veterinary supply) looking for ammonia w/o extra ingredients - could find nothing! They all had either detergents and/or surfactants. So any idea where I can get pure ammonia ordered over the internet? So far I have this nice looking tank, empty but for some cloudiness in the water. Even that is a bit exciting so far, but I want to get this show on the road of course.