Fishless Cycling

[Bint]

Hi everybody,
I have been surfing these pages for a while now and would like to know as i am going away for 12 days over christmas can i set my new tank up with some ammonia and let it run till i get back?
Then sort out the levels when i get back?

Would this be ok?

Thanks in advance.

 

[StuCarr]

I have been looking into fishless cycling too, I am very new to this. If I have understood the information correctly, it won't work. The ammonia is the food that feeds the nitrite producing bacteria, so for the first few days it will work ok, but once all the ammonia has gone there will be nothing to feed the bacteria so it will die. Then you'll be back at square one.

Like I said I am very new to all this (my tank is still in santa claus wrapping paper!) but I have been researching. Hopefully someone with some experience can point us both in the right direction

Stu

 

[OohFeeshy]

You should be fine to add twice the normal amount for an 'add and wait' cycle. By the time you come back, some bacteria should have grown without using up all the ammonia.

 

[Bint]

As maths is not my strong point, has anyone done the sums for how many millilitres of ammonia to add to 180 litre tank? or will i have to use the 'add to a bucket method?'

 

[tlagden]

Thought I'd ask a question under this category save space on the main page


I've increased the heat to around 30'C to aid the beneficial bacteria's growth last time i checked which was yesterday my results were as follows:

Saturday 23rd December 2006
Nitrit - 0.8 mg/litre
Nitrate - 8 mg/litre
Ammonia - 0.6 mg/litre
PH - 7.5/8

Do i need to keep doing water changes everyday of 10-15% even though i'm not adding ammonia (i don't have any or can find any!) or should i just leave the tanks water alone?

Thanks

 

[reg]

Hi! I just set up my 29 gallon tank 3 days ago and want to begin my fishless cycle. I bought a bottle of ammonia. It says that it is pure ammonia with no detergent. However, when I shake the bottle (as advised), it does foam at the top, and the foam remains. Since the instructions on this topic said not to use ammonia that foams, I would like to know if I have to find some new ammonia. Any suggestions, opinions, or comments? I have the water hovering at 84 degrees, as well.

Thank you very much for your help!!!!!

(and yes, this is the same post as on the fishless cycling pinned thread, I just wanted more exposure)

 

[tlagden]

Hi! I just set up my 29 gallon tank 3 days ago and want to begin my fishless cycle. I bought a bottle of ammonia. It says that it is pure ammonia with no detergent. However, when I shake the bottle (as advised), it does foam at the top, and the foam remains. Since the instructions on this topic said not to use ammonia that foams, I would like to know if I have to find some new ammonia. Any suggestions, opinions, or comments? I have the water hovering at 84 degrees, as well.

Thank you very much for your help!!!!!

(and yes, this is the same post as on the fishless cycling pinned thread, I just wanted more exposure)

i have my watter temperature hovering below 90 and as for the ammonia i think bubbled are okay as long as they aren't from detergent - if you have pure ammonia except from maybe a little water in there as well thats fine.

 

[Irf]

Hi! I just set up my 29 gallon tank 3 days ago and want to begin my fishless cycle. I bought a bottle of ammonia. It says that it is pure ammonia with no detergent. However, when I shake the bottle (as advised), it does foam at the top, and the foam remains. Since the instructions on this topic said not to use ammonia that foams, I would like to know if I have to find some new ammonia. Any suggestions, opinions, or comments? I have the water hovering at 84 degrees, as well.

Thank you very much for your help!!!!!

(and yes, this is the same post as on the fishless cycling pinned thread, I just wanted more exposure)

tlagden is right...... as long as it's pure ammonia it will be fine. I find pretty much most liquids will bubble, but foam is white frothy bubbles that remain for over around 5 mins.

Irf.

 

[reg]

It is foam, and it does remain for hours

Hi! I just set up my 29 gallon tank 3 days ago and want to begin my fishless cycle. I bought a bottle of ammonia. It says that it is pure ammonia with no detergent. However, when I shake the bottle (as advised), it does foam at the top, and the foam remains. Since the instructions on this topic said not to use ammonia that foams, I would like to know if I have to find some new ammonia. Any suggestions, opinions, or comments? I have the water hovering at 84 degrees, as well.

Thank you very much for your help!!!!!

(and yes, this is the same post as on the fishless cycling pinned thread, I just wanted more exposure)

tlagden is right...... as long as it's pure ammonia it will be fine. I find pretty much most liquids will bubble, but foam is white frothy bubbles that remain for over around 5 mins.

Irf.

 

[Irf]

Reg - if you are in the UK, try the Household Ammonia from Boots. It does not have detergents in it. Also the Household Ammoni sold by Kleen Off also works.

Irf.

 

[InaneCathode]

If your ammonia foams AT ALL (read foam, not bubbles. shake a bottle of water, that's bubbles) it isn't pure ammonia, keep looking.

 

[Bint]

A quick update on my fishless cycling attempt,
I put the ammonia in and left the filter and heater running i returned from a couple of days away and checked the ammonia level and its way off the chart!! I am now going away for 6 days will i see a drop in ammonia levels when i return or have i wasted my time with this add and wait method?
Thanks in advance
Oh and also have lots of green algea growth on the bogwood

 

[Irf]

Hi Bint.....

Have you read the article instructing how to do this? If you follow it set by step and don't take any shortcuts you should be fine. I can't honestly rememer how long it took for the initial ammonia to be reduced to almost zero, but it was more than a couple of days I'm sure. How much ammonia did you add?

Now if you are going to be away for almost a week, what you don't want is for all the amonia you have added to be processed and for the bacteria to starve while you are away. According to the article (and my personal experience) you should add ammonia as it is processed into nitrite. This keeps the bacteria fed and allows them to multiply. If you are not going to be there for almost a week then you may want to add a little extra ammonia so that the tank has some to be going on with. However there is a school of thought that says too much ammonia actually inhibits bacteria growth..... perhaps a passing expert can advise.

And regarding the algae, I wouldn't worry too much while cycling. When you change the water and add fish the algae may get taken care of, depending on what you get. What lighting are you using? How often and how long is it on for? Is the tank anywhere near a window? You don't say whether the algae is excessive or not, so I'm not sure if it's a problem.

Best of luck.....

Irf.

 

[InaneCathode]

It'll take longer than a week from personal experience. In my opinion the add and wait method is the way to go. I've added ammonia directly to the filter impeller and have noticed a sharp increase in the amount of time it takes to process ammonia. Ammonia itself stifles growth of the beneficial bacteria we like, with the add daily method the ammonia levels skyrocket, both stifling the growth of the ammonia eating bacteria and even more so the nitrite eating type.

Fishless cycling will seem to take FOREVER, just grit your teeth and dream about all the pretty fishes you'll have soon!