Newbie In Australia

[sharelle]

Hi everyone, another newbie in need of some advice.
I recently purchased a 4 ft tank (not quite 200 ltr). I have been researching heaps online and getting well and truley confused and overwhelmed!!!
I have read heap of articals on fishless cycling, the problem that I have is that as far as I can tell, it's impossible to buy pure ammonia in Australia to start the cycle. So if the tank is just left up and running for a month or so with no ammonia source it isn't really going to cycle is it?
Also the gravel that I have used for the substrate (which I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed) has made the tank a bit cloudy. It has slowly been clearing over the last week, just wondering if I should do a partial water change?
I have an internal filter which pumps 800 l\h.
Err Help!

 

[Musho3210]

go buy 2 raw coctail shrimp

put them in the tank, when there all gone (uhh do you really want to know why) then it should be cycled.

 

[sharelle]

Will that make it stinky?

 

[stang1]

Another alternative would be to add a small pinch of flake food every couple of days.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Buy some Bio-Spira and add some fish, just as good as a fishless cycle.

No, your tank will not cycle, unless you have a source of Ammonia to start the build up of beneficial bacteria.

You can do a partial water change, to get rid of some cloudy water.

 

[cuticom]

I dont belive we have biospira either.Your best bet is to see if you can convince an LFS to give you some media, and stick that in your tank.There is a company that sells live bacteria, I'll find the website for ya

Here we gohttp/www.aquasonic.com.au/?page=catalogue_24-27I spoke to these guys at a local ag show, they said the best bet to get good bacteria, is find a shop that supplies aquasonic products, then find out the delivery date of the next load, and pick it up ASAP, and make sure the store refrigerates it.

Oh and in case you ahvent come across it already www.livefish.com.au is our only online live fish store, and is your best bet if your looking for some of the harder to find fish

 

[2day]

Just a suggestion, but maybe buy some cycle from your local fish shop? It has heaps of bacteria, and should do the job!

 

[BigC]

Hi and Welcome to TFF
the following link give good advice on the cycle and course of events.
http/www.bestfish.com/breakin.html
Try to refrain from using Ammonia and additives to speed up the cycling process.
They tank water will be cloudy for a while after initial setup no matter how clean the gravel has been washed. (bacterial bloom)
Regards
BigC