Tank Cycling

[joshrm115]

Ok Im going to need some nice person out there to take me under there wing and help me out with my cycling. I know there is tones of info all ready on here about it but I need some one to take me under there wing should the carbon filter be on ??? What do I use for ammo? here is a pic of my tank and filter.

 

[Declan]

Carbon is only ever necessary to remove excess meds.

To get your ammonia go to your local hardware store and ask for PURE ammonia. It should be 9.5%m it also shouldn't have surfactants, the general rule is, when it is shaken, if it acts like a bottle of water, its OK to use.

D.

 

[rdd1952]

The filter will have to be on as it is actually the filter you are cycling and not the tank or water but you should look for other filter media such as SeaChem Matrix to replace the carbon. Carbon is primarily a chemical filter more of use when removing medications (which hopefully, you'll never need). It has to be changed every couple weeks and when you change it, you end up throwing a large portion of your beneficial bacteria away since they primarily colonize the filter media.

As mentioned, look for ammonia in the cleaning section of your local grocery store or home improvement store. I'm assuming you are in the US since your filter appears to be a HOB and they aren't very common elsewhere. If so, Walmart usually has ammonia. Just make sure it doesn't have detergents, perfumes or surfactants in it. Basically, if you shake it and it foams, it won't work.

 

[joshrm115]

So should I take the carbon filter aka the blue thing in the filter out??? The carbon is just the little black pellets in the blue pad right???

 

[rdd1952]

If you can find a regular spongue filter to replace the carbon one then I would definitely replace it.

 

[joshrm115]

So how long be for I can add fish??? an how often should I replace the filter?? It says 2 to 4 weaks

 

[doresy]

So how long be for I can add fish??? an how often should I replace the filter?? It says 2 to 4 weaks

Wow, ok so you need some advice

First, your signiture picture is huge and contains no info. Best to at least have the specifications of your tank in your signiture as you already have a personal photo as an avitar.

Back to cycling.....ok so froget all about getting fish for a while and concentrate on cycling your filter (notice that? you are cycling your filter NOT your tank/water)

As you are in the UK go to your local Homebase and in the household department you will find their own brand Ammonia solution at £1.99.
Not familiar with your filter from the photo but if it contains any carbon either in granulated form or pregnated sponge then remove it. In your filter you will need sponge and noodles (white ceramic tubes or nuggets commonly refered to as 'noodles') At the top of the filter you should also have a white layer of floss (this is to trap particals to help prevent the rest of the filter media from clogging)
Apart from the white floss the rest of the media should not be replaced untill it is literally falling apart. Instead it should be very gently washed in old tank water but more of that later as when you are doing a fishless cycle you don't need to touch the filter.
Now once you have set the filter as described and have filled the tank with dechlorinised water then you need to read and follow the instructions in this LINK

 

[joshrm115]

Ok Im picking up the ammo to day and are you talking about dental floss? and by the pic of my filter where should I put it?

 

[OldMan47]

Filter floss is called pillow stuffing in a yard goods shop. It is a fluffy material that is usually made of polyester these days. There are not many good places in that type of HOB to put the floss except as a layer between the turquoise sponge and the gray cartridge. Do not stuff it in tight or the water will go over the top of your filter material. If the gray cartridge contains a bit of carbon it won't hurt anything but it won't do you any good as carbon for very long either. You do not replace filter cartridges, you rinse them in used tank water when they start to plug up and put them back in place.