cycling question

[bronco862]

how long should i wait until i decide that i skipped the cycle on my new tank???

i put in a TINY bit of LS from my old tank, and left it in a fine mil filter bag. i didnt use any of my old LR, but i bought some new LR from imagine.

i also used 2 5 gallon buckets of water from my old tank that i had a powerhead sitting in, with a canister filter for like a week.

 

[fish scales2]

What was your method of ammonia introduction?

 

[kayakatl]

Have you been testing amonia, trite and trate with quality kits?

 

[bronco862]

i use salifert and api for testing.


i haven't even introduced ammonia yet. i was going to do straight ammonia or a raw shrimp.

 

[ichthyoid]

Check out these articles, you may find them useful. Consider that you may not have enough nutrients to cause a cycle.

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Cow_Fishless_Cycle.html">http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Cow_Fishless_Cycle.html</a>

[IMG]http://aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_article.php?aid=31">http://aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_article.php?aid=31</a>

 

[courterbobby]

It took my 80 gallon system a month to cycle. Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrite and then nitrate. I introduced raw rainbow trout chunks from publix and over night the tank looked like a toilet. It has finally cleared up to crystal clear and all my ammonia, trite, and trates are down to safe levels. I would just add some raw stuff to get it started.

 

[kayakatl]

I use ammonia out of a bottle myself. You have to get the right stuff. No surficants etc. If you want to go that route ACE hardware is the only place I know to get it.

 

[ichthyoid]

courterbobby;485703 wrote: It took my 80 gallon system a month to cycle. Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrite and then nitrate. I introduced raw rainbow trout chunks from publix and over night the tank looked like a toilet. It has finally cleared up to crystal clear and all my ammonia, trite, and trates are down to safe levels. I would just add some raw stuff to get it started.

I used to add fish food, until I read the article above by Chris Cow, PhD. He uses pure ammonia, and in the articles gives very good reasons why.

Yes, other sources of ammonia will work, but the article builds a compelling reason to use ammonia. BTW-I still use Fritzzyme #9 as a starter culture. It's the only thing I have ever tried that really works. Cycle in 5 days! (yes, 5 days)

http://www.fritzzyme.com/">http://www.fritzzyme.com/</a>

JMHO

 

[courterbobby]

ichthyoid;485707 wrote: I used to add fish food, until I read the article above by Chris Cow, PhD. He uses pure ammonia, and in the articles gives very good reasons why.

Yes, other sources of ammonia will work, but the article builds a compelling reason to use ammonia. BTW-I still use Fritzzyme #9 as a starter culture. It's the only thing I have ever tried that really works. Cycle in 5 days! (yes, 5 days)

http://www.fritzzyme.com/">http://www.fritzzyme.com/</a>

JMHO[/QUOTE]

I did not know about that method when I was setting up my aquarium. Seem to be a pretty good article with very good advice. If I ever set up a new tank, I will probably go that route