Keen newbies!

[Naughts]

Normally, you would set the tank up, usually with plants, add some bacteria and then let in run for a few weeks before you added any fish.

This is a little misleading.
Either:
Plant the tank, let the plants grow, then add a few fish
Or:
Cycle the tank with ammonia then, when naturally present bacteria are colonised sufficiently to convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate within 24 hours, add all the fish.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

This is a little misleading.
Either:
Plant the tank, let the plants grow, then add a few fish
Or:
Cycle the tank with ammonia then, when naturally present bacteria are colonised sufficiently to convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate within 24 hours, add all the fish.

Nope...
I never mentioned ammonia because I, personally, don't believe it's needed.
Ammonia can be added artificially to encourage naturally-occurring bacteria to grow.

I actually said "set the tank up, usually with plants, add some bacteria and then let in run for a few weeks before you added any fish."
Nothing 'misleading' from me.
NOTE I said 'add some bacteria'. The bacteria I used, which worked a treat, was bottled and specially cultivated for the purpose. (I used Microbe-Lift, but other products are available )

Many, especially those who are in a rush and just can't wait to have fish in the tank, cycle with fish present. The fish provide the ammonia for the bacteria to grow.
HOWEVER...I strongly believe that this subjects the fish to unnecessary stress and, especially for those new to the hobby, so much can, (and often does), go wrong...usually with fish deaths. Ammonia actually irritates and burns fish and it will damage the gills. This means that even after cycling is complete and the tank is up and running as it should, those fish exposed to it will have damaged gills and are more likely to die, sooner, rather than later.

 

[Corypower]

I

Nope...
I never mentioned ammonia because I, personally, don't believe it's needed.
Ammonia can be added artificially to encourage naturally-occurring bacteria to grow.

I actually said "set the tank up, usually with plants, add some bacteria and then let in run for a few weeks before you added any fish."
Nothing 'misleading' from me.
NOTE I said 'add some bacteria'. The bacteria I used, which worked a treat, was bottled and specially cultivated for the purpose. (I used Microbe-Lift, but other products are available )

Many, especially those who are in a rush and just can't wait to have fish in the tank, cycle with fish present. The fish provide the ammonia for the bacteria to grow.
HOWEVER...I strongly believe that this subjects the fish to unnecessary stress and, especially for those new to the hobby, so much can, (and often does), go wrong...usually with fish deaths. Ammonia actually irritates and burns fish and it will damage the gills. This means that even after cycling is complete and the tank is up and running as it should, those fish exposed to it will have damaged gills and are more likely to die, sooner, rather than later.

I agree it is misleading

 

[Rocky998]

Nope...
I never mentioned ammonia because I, personally, don't believe it's needed.
Ammonia can be added artificially to encourage naturally-occurring bacteria to grow.

I actually said "set the tank up, usually with plants, add some bacteria and then let in run for a few weeks before you added any fish."
Nothing 'misleading' from me.
NOTE I said 'add some bacteria'. The bacteria I used, which worked a treat, was bottled and specially cultivated for the purpose. (I used Microbe-Lift, but other products are available )

Many, especially those who are in a rush and just can't wait to have fish in the tank, cycle with fish present. The fish provide the ammonia for the bacteria to grow.
HOWEVER...I strongly believe that this subjects the fish to unnecessary stress and, especially for those new to the hobby, so much can, (and often does), go wrong...usually with fish deaths. Ammonia actually irritates and burns fish and it will damage the gills. This means that even after cycling is complete and the tank is up and running as it should, those fish exposed to it will have damaged gills and are more likely to die, sooner, rather than later.

But once bacteria grows after adding ammonia the bb will eliminate the ammonia, correct? As long as you're patient lol

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

But once bacteria grows after adding ammonia the bb will eliminate the ammonia, correct? As long as you're patient lol

That's the intention.
Note that the ammonia is artificially added to feed the bacteria, in order to make it grow. Bacteria will grow naturally, without having to add the bacteria, but it might take a while longer. Of course, once you've added ammonia to the tank, then you're committed to having ammonia in the tank until the bacteria gets rid of it.

I didn't need to add ammonia, because I already had substrate and filters with old bacteria in them, so I had a good population of bacteria to begin with. Adding the bottled bacteria was simply to increase the bacterial population and it appears to have worked well. Adding water to my old substrate, which contained old organic matter as well as the bacteria, automatically created the ammonia the bacteria needed.
A problem with the waiting is that you can't normally see the bacteria growing, like you can plants or higher animals and you have to play chemist to look for signs of growth in the reductions of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

 

[Rocky998]

That's the intention.
Note that the ammonia is artificially added to feed the bacteria, in order to make it grow. Bacteria will grow naturally, without having to add the bacteria, but it might take a while longer. Of course, once you've added ammonia to the tank, then you're committed to having ammonia in the tank until the bacteria gets rid of it.

I didn't need to add ammonia, because I already had substrate and filters with old bacteria in them, so I had a good population of bacteria to begin with. Adding the bottled bacteria was simply to increase the bacterial population and it appears to have worked well. Adding water to my old substrate, which contained old organic matter as well as the bacteria, automatically created the ammonia the bacteria needed.
A problem with the waiting is that you can't normally see the bacteria growing, like you can plants or higher animals and you have to play chemist to look for signs of growth in the reductions of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

How would you cycle a new tank without having another tank? I just want to know out of curiosity...

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

How would you cycle a new tank without having another tank? I just want to know out of curiosity...

No problem...have a look at my journal.
Granted, I had the advantage of old gravel and old filter sponges, but I'm now a fan of Microbe-Lift bacterial products and would readily recommend these to anyone setting up a new tank, who didn't have access to an old tank and established bacterial colonies. (There are other similar products, from other companies, but I'm not familiar with those).
I also used plants, which provided somewhere else for the bacteria to grow on and contributed to providing some nutrients for the bacteria.

I'm also aware that there are Forum members who don't believe these products to be effective, alhough my impression is that this is based solely on distrust and feelings, rather than any hard and properly researched evidence.
I'm qualified to a Masters level in biology, including a load of microbiology, so I'm familiar with bacteria and how they work and am so far impressed with the bottled bacteria.

You could cycle a tank from scratch, using naturally occuring bacteria...although this would simply take far longer.
Some add small amounts of fish food, to decompose and provide that bacteria with nutrients, thus speeding up the process.
Others add ammonia to the water, again, to provide any bacteria present with nutrients.
Others still add bacteria either from friends tanks, from outside water butts and/or a host of other watery sources.

 

[Rocky998]

No problem...have a look at my journal.
Granted, I had the advantage of old gravel and old filter sponges, but I'm now a fan of Microbe-Lift bacterial products and would readily recommend these to anyone setting up a new tank, who didn't have access to an old tank and established bacterial colonies. (There are other similar products, from other companies, but I'm not familiar with those).
I also used plants, which provided somewhere else for the bacteria to grow on and contributed to providing some nutrients for the bacteria.

I'm also aware that there are Forum members who don't believe these products to be effective, alhough my impression is that this is based solely on distrust and feelings, rather than any hard and properly researched evidence.
I'm qualified to a Masters level in biology, including a load of microbiology, so I'm familiar with bacteria and how they work and am so far impressed with the bottled bacteria.

You could cycle a tank from scratch, using naturally occuring bacteria...although this would simply take far longer.
Some add small amounts of fish food, to decompose and provide that bacteria with nutrients, thus speeding up the process.
Others add ammonia to the water, again, to provide any bacteria present with nutrients.
Others still add bacteria either from friends tanks, from outside water butts and/or a host of other watery sources.

What to I do if my tap water reads... 0 ppm in nitrates and 0 ppm in nitrites... Does this mean my tap isnt gonna cycle the water properly? Also how long does it take to cycle an aquarium with bottled bacteria and some fish food?

 

[Rocky998]

No problem...have a look at my journal.
Granted, I had the advantage of old gravel and old filter sponges, but I'm now a fan of Microbe-Lift bacterial products and would readily recommend these to anyone setting up a new tank, who didn't have access to an old tank and established bacterial colonies. (There are other similar products, from other companies, but I'm not familiar with those).
I also used plants, which provided somewhere else for the bacteria to grow on and contributed to providing some nutrients for the bacteria.

I'm also aware that there are Forum members who don't believe these products to be effective, alhough my impression is that this is based solely on distrust and feelings, rather than any hard and properly researched evidence.
I'm qualified to a Masters level in biology, including a load of microbiology, so I'm familiar with bacteria and how they work and am so far impressed with the bottled bacteria.

You could cycle a tank from scratch, using naturally occuring bacteria...although this would simply take far longer.
Some add small amounts of fish food, to decompose and provide that bacteria with nutrients, thus speeding up the process.
Others add ammonia to the water, again, to provide any bacteria present with nutrients.
Others still add bacteria either from friends tanks, from outside water butts and/or a host of other watery sources.

also thank you for your help!!

 

[Slaphppy7]

What to I do if my tap water reads... 0 ppm in nitrates and 0 ppm in nitrites... Does this mean my tap isnt gonna cycle the water properly? Also how long does it take to cycle an aquarium with bottled bacteria and some fish food?

Tap water is fine.

You'll never know how long the cycle will take using food, because you can't control the ammonia levels as precisely as you can with pure ammonia...rotting food produces varying amounts of ammonia at different times

 

[Rocky998]

Tap water is fine.

You'll never know how long the cycle will take using food, because you can't control the ammonia levels as precisely as you can with pure ammonia...rotting food produces varying amounts of ammonia at different times

Ok... So... When or if I use microbe lift... Should I also get ammonium?

 

[Rocky998]

Ok... So... When or if I use microbe lift... Should I also get ammonium?

And will microbe lift speed up the process?

 

[Slaphppy7]

And will microbe lift speed up the process?

I don't use bottled bacteria, never will...it's not needed, IME, and a waste of $, IMO.

Patience is key in this hobby, I'm not out to speed up my fishless cycles for convenience...using ammonia and conditioner only, my tanks took right at 3 weeks to cycle...gave me time to set up my hardscape, plant, research stocking ideas, etc

 

[Rocky998]

I don't use bottled bacteria, never will...it's not needed, IME, and a waste of $, IMO

I hate making decisions... Ok does the bottled bacteria contain bacteria or not... Would it help speed up the cycling process? I know you may not like it but I just want to make sure I'm steady and have a solid decision on this and not a wishy washy type of thing

 

[Slaphppy7]

I hate making decisions... Ok does the bottled bacteria contain bacteria or not... Would it help speed up the cycling process? I know you may not like it but I just want to make sure I'm steady and have a solid decision on this and not a wishy washy type of thing

Yes, it contains bacteria...whether they are viable or not is another matter...some claim it does speed the process, but I wouldn't know