Where Do The Bacteria Come From ?

[scubadoo]

But I've just bought my first tank - collecting tomorrow, so will start setting up over the next couple of weeks.

Its a second hand Juwel Trigon 190 in very good condition, but I guess that I should clean it out myself to make sure - just hot water I guess and scrub hard ?

Then I'm planning to do a fishless cycle, but I've been wondering does the bacteria just appear out of the ether (or water to be more precise), or should I be adding something which already has a colony of the beneficial bacteria ?

If I do need to add something.......what? I dont have any friends who are aquarists so can you buy something in a bottle ?

I seem to recall that adding live plants may help - is that true ?

thanks in advance

scuba

 

[carrera]

i believe they do just appear out of the ether

i think the fact is that they are present in the air. but no, you dont need to add anything. good on you choosing the fishless cycle route

 

[Majjie]

Your tank will cycle much quicker if you can add a few more bacteria to start with - and yes, adding live plants will bring in some nitrifying bacteria with them

There are also products you can buy which claim to contain these bacteria - most people seem to think that they're rubbish - but there's a new one which may well be better: Tetra Safestart

The Wolf did a thread on them the other day:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=150331

Good luck with your fishless cycle

 

[OohFeeshy]

They'll come from anywhere- the air, the water, the decorations you've put in, your hands... No nned to add any in, they'll appear naturally.

 

[TammyLiz]

I've done it without adding anything and it took forever. Its much faster if you can add something like filter media from another tank. I haven't used it myself but I've heard biospira is good if it has been properly refrigerated. Plants can help if you don't clean them off too well but they can also introduce snails. I don't know if you'd consider this a bad thing or not, but I personally don't mind the snails.

 

[scubadoo]

Many thanks for the responses.

I'm not in any great hurry to get my tank to cycle in 14 days or anything, but I know that once the tanks in place and full of water the kids will be pushing for me to put some fish in it

Just have to hold them off.


Unfortunately I dont know anybody who I could blag some existing filter media off, so I'll look into the Tetra Safestart product. I am intending to put in a mix of real and silk plants to start off with, so that may help.


Thanks again

scuba