Inroducing the fishless cycling....

[squirl]

Transfering mature filter media will definately help but its not instant and will still take a bit of time, alot of bacteria dies out with the shock of transfer, just like if you took a fish from one tank and threw it straight into another. a good way is using alot of old water from the same tank your using the media from.

[ThePixie]

Ah yes, that is what we did if I recall. It equated to a HUGE water change. This was moving from a small to larger fresh water. The marine was different as of course the live rock was/is the filter.

[carpy100]

we used to provide a service in our shop, we'd let customers buy media (siporax or sinilar) suspend it with substrate of choice in fluval media bags in our systems for a couple of weks to populate with bacteria. then gave them as many gallons of system water they could be bothered to cary home,worked a treat!
i did it myself in a 2 gallon marine tank and kept an annemonie and a pair of clowns with a lump of rock inhabited with peacock worms instantly! JUST CHANGED 25% OF WATER FOR NEXT 4 WEKS.Zero readings there after.....

[Trillian]

What a great idea...I wish all LFS were so conscientious.

[pegleg]

Sorry to sound a bit thick,but where do you get the bottle of pure ammonia from?

[Esfa]

Originally Posted by pegleg

Sorry to sound a bit thick,but where do you get the bottle of pure ammonia from?

boots tend to do it. just make sure it doesnt foam when you shake it!

[pegleg]

Thanks Esfa.
Just wondering if there was alternative ways to cycle a tank that didn't involve chemicals.
If there was no hurry to introduce fish to a tank,would a planted tank mature on it's own from the natural process of decaying plant matter etc?

Also what about using some water from filter sponges in a mature Koi pond?

Just a thought,but would it work.

[Esfa]

Originally Posted by pegleg

Thanks Esfa.
Just wondering if there was alternative ways to cycle a tank that didn't involve chemicals.
If there was no hurry to introduce fish to a tank,would a planted tank mature on it's own from the natural process of decaying plant matter etc?

Also what about using some water from filter sponges in a mature Koi pond?

Just a thought,but would it work.

the planted tank would word, but it would probably tank months

water wouldnt work, but the sponge its self would work.

or you can just chuck a load of fish food in the tank! this rots down and produces ammonia.

or a frozen prawn.

or apparently pee in your tank.

[pegleg]

Originally Posted by Esfa

the planted tank would word, but it would probably tank months

water wouldnt work, but the sponge its self would work.

or you can just chuck a load of fish food in the tank! this rots down and produces ammonia.

or a frozen prawn.

or apparently pee in your tank.

I will make my mind up what method to use,I am going to plant my tank as soon as possible, as I just love the amazon swords and crypts,they have always been my favourites,and they was what I missed most when I went over to marines.

As for the peeing in the tank,sounds like a good,cheap idea,BUT could be habit forming,(not good when you have company)
Any way,thanks for the advice,Esfa.

[little jo]

try using tetra safestart, enables immediate aquarium start as it contains live nitrifying bacteria, so you wont need to fish cycle your aquarium. i have used it to start all my tanks and they have all been fine. gradually build up fish in the aquarium tho as if u put to many in at once it will be to much for ur filter to cope with