fishless, plantless, ammonialess cycling...

[corbypete]

I have my new tank, which has had sand added to it at the weekend, and my ehiem aquaball filter arrived today also.

Now, would there be enough bacteria in the sand, and from the air, to get some sort of bio cycle going?

has anyone 'peed' into their tank yet as a source of ammonia???

 

[Discomafia]

Your tank won't cycle w/o a source of ammonia, and use a dead shrimp or some flakes for ammonia. I don't think your pee is the best thing to be putting in your fish's water. Common sense...

 

[Erised]

Someone ones filled a tank and set it up after the cat had pee-ed in it. He couldnt ever figure out where the ammonia spike came from It doesnt work however, its Too much ammonia and stays around waaaay too long.

If you've got more tanks setup already, it cant hurt to get your filter running in the other tank for a couple of days, that does add a lot more beneficial bacteria.

My way of cycling a tank (not fishless) is add sand from one of my already set up tanks, add 50/70% water of an already used tank and add a filter from an already used tank ... then add a small amount of fish (usually 5 of my zebra danios) and let it run like that for about 2 weeks.

 

[Dubby]

Someone ones filled a tank and set it up after the cat had pee-ed in it. He couldnt ever figure out where the ammonia spike came from It doesnt work however, its Too much ammonia and stays around waaaay too long.

I guess that depends on how much the cat peed So as long as you regulate the amount of pee thats added to the tank, technically it should work

 

[happyadd]

I was considering peeing in my tank. Technically pee is sterile, but i'm not sure what bacteria is in it and how pure the ammonia is, I mean people drink their own! so I'm sure it wouldn't cause major problems.

It would be awesome to see how you get on, I was too scared though

Let me know what you decide!

 

[corbypete]

i wasn't even being that serious, but i knew some of you woulda had it on your mind!

hey, you pee on a jellyfish sting dont you? must be pretty useful then....

i wont take any photographs, be rest assured

 

[corbypete]

this question has been answered elsewhere!

http/forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/aq...9354115314.html

 

[corbypete]

so, how much fish food should one add to a new tank to getthings going?

i dont want too little so it does nothing, and i dont want too much either

thanks

 

[SarahBravo]

I added a small pinch of flake every day.....worked okay. Took longer than with ammonia tho, cos you have to wait for it to break down.

How long do bacteria on filter sponges survive? I've gotta change some sponges soon, could post you a gungy one if you want!!

Sarah

 

[corbypete]

ooo lovely, a gungy sponge from sarah niice

are you in the uk? it would survive overnight in a plastic bag i imagine!

 

[Paul_MTS]

to keep bacteria alive the best it to pack it liek a fish, use some tank water enough to cover it then lots of air.