Question About Fishless Cycling

[n3ont3tra]

When I'm fishless cycling, do I need a filter or substrate or anything or can I use just a bare tank? I'll be getting amonia Tuesday, but I can't get anything else until later... so would the bacteria still grow?

 

[blue_soda025]

I don't know if it's actually possible to do a fishless cycle without a filter, but it would be MUCH better if you had one. Most of the bacteria live in the filter media anyways. I would wait until you got a filter to do a fishless cycle.

 

[n3ont3tra]

That's what I thought... I'm planning to have a very heavily planted tank, a little bit overstocked. Would a Marineland Penguin BIO-Wheel Power Filter with 100 GPH be okay?

 

[n3ont3tra]

-saves-
Anybody?

 

[PaPeRo]

Are you going to use a 29 gallon tank? If not what size tank? 100GPH is only enough for a tank 15 gallons or smaller. For overstocked tanks you will need about 2 and 3 times the recommended filter capacity per tank size.

 

[n3ont3tra]

No, it's going to be a 10 gallon. This is what I plan on stocking:
6 Rummy Nose Tetras
3 Panda Cories
A few shrimp
Maybe 2 ADFs.

http/www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_...ilyID_2402.aspx
So maybe I should get the 150 instead? It says that's for up to 30 gallons. The 100 gph is only 20 gallons. I don't want too much current, though because it will be heavily planted...

 

[PaPeRo]

Sorry that link didn't show up. Anyway yeah get the 150GPH, but try to find one with flow control just in case it's too much current.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Ok. Thanks for the advice.