Starting Over

[KezJona]

So, after the death of my Siamese fighter, Doogle, I am going to cycle my tank, fish-less this time! I have another home for my fish in the mean time and I am just wondering what I can do with the live plants that were already in this tank? I have moved some to the new home for my fishies but there are about another 8-10 that I need to find space for. Obviously they will be out of action in a tank for around 6-8 weeks so I am just wondering what I can do with them? Should I get a bucket of fish water and keep them in their over the period of cycling my tank?

Also, I will keep a diary of my fishless cycle for others to follow to ensure that I am doing the right thing, it is true what they say - you do learn the hard way . However, I am happy I am making this step, and in some form, perhaps it was good the death of Doogle, to give me this kick in the bum to do things right, and boy I am going to!


Questions right now I would like some answers to please:

1) What should I do with my spare plants?

2) When I have re-filled my fishless cycle tank, should I still add both API Stress Zyme and Stress Coat and continue doing so as marked on the bottle?

3) Shall I add pure ammonia including fish flakes, or a combination of both?

4) Can anyone link me to a useful guide for me to follow during this fishless cycle?

I will keep you all updated with the progress of how it goes, and hope things go smoothly to create a perfect biological environment for my fishies

Kez

 

[Wigster]

1) What should I do with my spare plants? - As far as I'm aware putting the plants in the tank whilst it's cycling is an option, though not 100% ideal (It's what I've chosen to do personally though )

2) When I have re-filled my fishless cycle tank, should I still add both API Stress Zyme and Stress Coat and continue doing so as marked on the bottle? - Someone more knowledgeable can answer this one

3) Shall I add pure ammonia including fish flakes, or a combination of both? Pure ammonia is all that is needed

4) Can anyone link me to a useful guide for me to follow during this fishless cycle? All the info you need here: Fishless Cycling & Other Helpful Guides

 

[KezJona]

1) What should I do with my spare plants? - As far as I'm aware putting the plants in the tank whilst it's cycling is an option, though not 100% ideal (It's what I've chosen to do personally though )

2) When I have re-filled my fishless cycle tank, should I still add both API Stress Zyme and Stress Coat and continue doing so as marked on the bottle? - Someone more knowledgeable can answer this one

3) Shall I add pure ammonia including fish flakes, or a combination of both? Pure ammonia is all that is needed

4) Can anyone link me to a useful guide for me to follow during this fishless cycle? All the info you need here: Fishless Cycling & Other Helpful Guides

I don't really want the plants, or anything else except the substrate to be in the tank whilst it is cycling. I heard that plants can effect the ammonia readings so would prefer to steer clear from that one.

But thank you for the links, have read them now and am somewhat clearer on things. Couple more questions though

5) When I add the new water to the tank, should I leave it to settle for a few days without the filters on, or should I turn the filters on straight away and leave the tank a few days before adding ammonia?

6) After reading the fishless cycle guide, what do people recommend, the "add and wait" approach, or the "add daily".

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I've done fishless and fish in cycling but what I always do now is just take some mature filter media from another tank (one of my own, a friends, from the LFS...) and then you've got a cycled tank from day one.

Best to keep an eye on all the stats and still add fish slowly over a week or 2 depending on the stock you want but that is always an option for you as well.

I haven't lost any fish doing this but just keep at those water changes and test the stats daily until you are sure the tank is stable. If your tests show anything of concern do a water change and test again later but with mature filter media it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm by no means suggesting you just grab someone's filter cartridge and throw all the fish back in, but I'm sure you get the point...