The fishyless cycle and the fishy cycle

[danielb]

Now this may sound really silly for some wise nuts amoung us. What is a fishless / fish cycle. how do i do it? any equipment needed?

It is when you should leave the tank for a month until you pu fish in?

I've got a new fluval uno 13ish tank, but no fish yet !

An help wouln't go a miss


Dan

 

[daniodude]

i didn't do a fishless cycle, because there are fish hardy enough to live in a non-established tank, like a day or two after I got the tank, I got some Danios. They are doing fine and I have not lost a single one.

For a fishless cycle- I believe you just need to put in food or ammonia. but I have read it takes longer with food.
Fish cycle- You just need to add hardy fish and they will produce the ammonia
I am not sure as to how long you have to wait, cuz I'm not adding fish other than danios.
sorry, I'm not much help.

Daniodude

 

[corrosive]

I believe basically this will happen:

1.Ammonia levels go up
2.Nitrite Levels go up
3.Ammonia levels go down
4.Nitrite Levels go down
5.Nitrate levels go up

 

[luxum]

For a fishless cycle, you would be adding a source of ammonia and allowing the nitrogen cycle to establish before adding fish. This way they are spared living in toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite while the cycle establishes. Toxic levels of these substances are responsible for "new tank syndrome", and can cause permanent gill damage and death. If you are interested in sparing your fish the experience of an establishing cycle, check out the links below. The first one is the original article on fishless cycling, it explains the basics. The second one is an improved recipe which fixes some of the problem with the first recipe, i advise anyone doing a fishless cycle to use the second (5ppm) recipe, and to add a little fish food as well to ensure that the organic waste converters also establish.

Fishless cycling link 1

Fishless cycling link 2

 

[clutterydrawer]

There's a pinned topic at the top of this forum that will tell you all you need to know.