New 60l Tank (15 Us Gallon)

[rachcake]

Hooray I got a 60L (15 US gallon according to an online converter) tank for christmas

I made a massive mistake with my first tank and listened to my LFS who said after 48 hours i could add fish... it ended up in fish-in cycling, loads of water changes (after the LFS told me NOT to do any water changes!!)....

....Er yeah you get the idea! This time I want to do fishless cycling and I'm getting really confused. I've read the guide on here about it.

Seems to be difficult to find ammonia in the UK, are there any other products that would work instead of ammonia?? the tank came with nutrafin cycle, which i've now read seems to be useless, but a friend of mine used 'Interpet Filter Start'. for example i've also seen API Quick Start - http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-treatments-fish-medicines/tropical-aquarium-treatments-and-fish-medicines/freshwater-conditioners/biological-filter-boosters/api-quick-start-30ml.html

help please?

 

[nellynelly]

Hi, have you got any friends who already have fish tanks?

 

[mike455555]

the best thing is getting some of your friends mature media, that should kick start the cycle, you dont actually need pure bottled ammonia to start the process, flake food should release some when added to the tank, as its decaying and its the decaying process which causes ammonia, although this isent measurable at all, so thats a downside. if u can get hold of mature media you can stock straight away

 

[rachcake]

the best thing is getting some of your friends mature media, that should kick start the cycle, you dont actually need pure bottled ammonia to start the process, flake food should release some when added to the tank, as its decaying and its the decaying process which causes ammonia, although this isent measurable at all, so thats a downside. if u can get hold of mature media you can stock straight away

Right I see! I don't have any friends who have tanks anymore

 

[nellynelly]

yep as was going to say, you will need basically a mature filter, empty all the poo into a container, then stick your new media in to soak, if friend has sponge or wool, reccomened changing some old for you new, will help seed alot better

what about anyone in your area, have you checked the list for mature media donations, im on it, however im ib Bournemouth.....did you say you already have a tank

 

[mike455555]

your LFS might sell you some. although i wouldent get them personal just becasue there might be illnesses in there, once you have 1 tank cycled its easy to cycle others its just getting started which is the problem. i did a fish in cycle for my first tank, but have since used flake food to cycle and keep a tank going

 

[nellynelly]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/150631-list-of-members-willing-to-donate-mature-filter-media-to-newbies/

this is the list

 

[mike455555]

although helpful media probably wont survive posting. but if u can find some local then thats great

 

[daizeUK]

If you can't find ammonia to buy anywhere, I had the same problem, I ended up buying BioMature off eBay for £6.50. It does the same job and easy to use.

As for Interpet Filter Start, I'm currently using it to try to kickstart a fishless cycle and it's been 18 days now not getting anywhere. Most people on these forums will tell you that bacteria in a bottle don't do anything and I'm starting to believe they know what they're talking about

 

[nellynelly]

yes thats why i post it to check the local area,

 

[rachcake]

although helpful media probably wont survive posting. but if u can find some local then thats great

by media do you mean to put in the filter? I have Marina slim filter where you slot in 3 sponges if that makes sense?

so confused!

 

[nellynelly]

LINCOLNSHIRE/BOURNE
timmystood


LINCOLNSHIRE/LINCOLN
ianho

Yes media is the material for example sponges which go in the filter, some have big,little sponges, cyramics, carbon etc,

 

[mike455555]

yes media's the sponges as for kick starting the filters i watched an intresting vid on the forum about bottle bateria and its found that it can surrive for a little while but it has to be the right type, theres sever types of nitrfying bateria, and only some work at cirtan levels (but not to confuse you forget about that) you can stick bottled bateria if it works you have a kick start if it doesnt then it and supply a little amonnia to get the filter started anyway (nothing mesurable though)

 

[rachcake]

LINCOLNSHIRE/BOURNE
timmystood


LINCOLNSHIRE/LINCOLN
ianho

Yes media is the material for example sponges which go in the filter, some have big,little sponges, cyramics, carbon etc,

thanks for the list! so if i added a sponge from someone elses tank into my filter to mature it, it'd kick start things? then would i just keep checking the ammonia/nitrite etc until it was okay to add fish?

 

[nellynelly]

basically yes, the media{sponge} houses the good bacteria, the more old media you can get the better, if possible swap 50% old for new, then filters good to go, adding but slow, put it this way, all my tanks are done this way and never had a causalty yet, everytime i get new tank tank old media from my other filters and replace with new, and soak the new in the poo ive removed to seed new sponges,