In a new tank......

[Rodders]

To age water fishless you need to add ammonia. What do you add? Is there something special to buy?

If you cycled with fish, would you add say a couple of fish after 3 days (to make sure everything works) then keep them in there for a month of so before adding any other.....?

 

[WILDER]

If you have a good lfs they might give you some media, in gravel or sponge form.

 

[BobK]

There's a great pinned thread in the beginner forum on fishless cycling that should answer your questions. If you cycle with fish you will have to test the water daily and be prepared for numerous water changes to keep the fish safe. This will take anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Wilder's right, if you can get some media and/or gravel from an lfs it will greatly speed up your cycling time but you'll still have to test frequently.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

What size is your tank?

If it is around 10-15, it would be safer to go with the fishless cycling.

 

[Rodders]

Its not actually for me, its for my mate.
I cycled mine(still going) the hard way, i messed up basically, but its going ok now.
Just want to give him some good advice!
Hes got an old filter from a mates tank, but its dried up so i guess the bacteria woulda died?

 

[yvez9]

the bacteria would be dead

if you have a cycled tank, just take out a piece of media from your filter or even put gravel in a pouch and add to his filter. his tank will be instantly cycled. Just don't fully stock right away. add a few fish every few weeks and test regularly to monitor ammonia and nitrite

everything should be fine that way

 

[Rodders]

Cool Cheers

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yeah that's how I cycled my new tank. I squeezed the filter sponge from another tank into my new one, used some tights - ! - and filled them with gravel from another tank and left it sitting on the bottom of my new tank for a bit. Then I added 3 platys the next day! But they've all been fine! I am going to buy some guppies soon!