Help Please

[chigwellhammer]

Ive got my tank setup with gravel , filter and water all in it and running fine. Tomorrow i should receive my heater. So should i stick that in switch it on etc and start adding fish food each day, and then when that is done i can then add my plants and fish? Also the plants i was looking to get is mazon Sword ,Vallis Torta. Is That okay?

Any help appreciated
Jamie

 

[Ryefish]

Switch your heater on as soon as you get it so it can start heating the water up. You need the tank to be atleast 80F to let the bacteria thrive quicker.
Do you have any way of testing the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?

 

[arobinson1984]

I wouldnt use fish food to try fishless cycle the tank, although possible its a very innaccurate way that also creates a not so nice mess in your tank. You would be much better getting a bottle of ammonia from boots / homebase for about £2, that way you can measure accurately the amount you need.


Andy

 

[stang1]

I have to disagree about using food to cycle a tank, it's how I've cycled all of mine and never had any problems.
A lot of people disagree because of the mess but with a small amount of food and decent enough filtration, it can be done this way.

 

[chigwellhammer]

Well ive got the fish food now so might as-well give it a crack, so ill set my heater up tomorrow and start adding a tiny bit of fish food each day and how long should i do this before i test it with a master test kit? which i do need to get! and then i can add my plants? or can i add them when ever...


Thanks
Jamie

 

[stang1]

If you add a good pinch of fish food, you shouldn't need to add any more daily. Just keep an eye on your water parameters. I usually let everything settle for a few days before adding plants.
Nutrafin or API are good test kits and there is no reason why you can't test daily, although it will take a couple of weeks or more before the tank is ready.

 

[chigwellhammer]

So i stick my heater in tomorrow, Stick it to the right temp and then how long after until i add a pinch of fish food? and then couple days after i can add my plants then couple days after that test the water and see how it is getting on?

 

[stang1]

You can add food as soon as you have the water in the tank. I usually wait 3-4 days before adding plants and test the water every day to keep an eye on levels.

 

[chigwellhammer]

Okay thank you very much, Ill add some now

 

[arobinson1984]

I have to disagree about using food to cycle a tank, it's how I've cycled all of mine and never had any problems.
A lot of people disagree because of the mess but with a small amount of food and decent enough filtration, it can be done this way.

I'm not arguing that a tank can be cycled using fish food, but for the sake of £2 its much easier using bottled ammonia which you can easily measure exact amounts. By the end of a 6-8 week cycle the op will have used £2 worth of fish food anyway!

If the op wishes to fully stock the tank in one go once the fishless cycle is complete then they need to be aiming to cycle at a level of 4-5ppm worth of ammonia to avoid any 'mini-cycles' upon adding fish, a pinch of food will not achieve a level of 4ppm of ammonia unless in a tiny tank.


Andy

 

[stang1]

I've never agreed with fully stocking a tank once a cycle has finished, regardless of how the tank is cycled.
It wouldn't cost £2 for fish food when you only need use a generous pinch, depending on size of tank.
I've cycled countless tanks using this method and never had any problems with a mini cycle. I would put it down to luck but it's more a case of keeping an eye on water parameters and slow stocking.
I've just cycled a 3ft tank using this method and I'm cycling my 5ft tanks in the exact same way. I've no qualms about adding fish once they have cycled. Many people oppose this method yet I find it one of the easiest ways to go about it.
One of the joys of fishkeeping is the various methods people use and the experiences they share. It's down to each individual which method works best for them.

 

[Ryefish]

im sending Chigwellhammer some mature media and, if i can, some ammonia. I think the ammonia would be better for the mature media