Inroducing the fishless cycling....

[Trillian]

Originally Posted by simonb-uk

well it worked for my tank never had any problems and stocked the tank straight away

How regularly did you test the water for ammonia and nitrite as it can take a couple of weeks for the nitrate cycle to complete?

[simonb-uk]

well i ahd the tank running for about two years with no problems and tested weekly

[Trillian]

Originally Posted by simonb-uk

well i ahd the tank running for about two years with no problems and tested weekly

I guess you were lucky then because IME not cycling a tank (either by using ammonia in the fishless cycle or adding filter media from a mature tank) results in dead fish. There have been far too many threads on here saying more or less the same thing but there's always an exception to every rule, I suppose.

[simonb-uk]

i suppose lol....well i know lots of ppl who used them and had the same results as me

[Morgan Freeman]

I finally get it.

Any good links to get the kits, ammonia etc?

I'm taking over my dad's tank but all this is good to know anyway.

[reptile_man_08]

API master test kit is a good 'un, probably find it cheapest on ebay.

[Morgan Freeman]

Cheers man.

[Cleopatra the Royal]

sorry, i found it difficult following the 'and then the bacteria does this ..... and then this bacteria does this...'

if anyone else is having the same problem, here is an extract that explains it more clearly (Nitrosomanas break down ammonia, Nitrobacter break down nitrites, plants assimilate nitrates):

"In a biologically immature aquarium, waste will build up as there are not the necessary bacteria to break it down. This will result in a large ammonia surge, followed by the colonisation of Nitrosomanas bacteria. A large nitrite surge will then occur, followed by the lengthy process of a colonisation of Nitrobacter bacteria. Only now can the nitrites be converted into nitrates, and the aquarium is safe for use."

Hope this helps.

Harry

[Morgan Freeman]

I thought a high level of NitrAtes weren't safe? They can be present, just not high.

[jaykickboxer]

Originally Posted by Morgan Freeman

I thought a high level of NitrAtes weren't safe? They can be present, just not high.

Im pretty sure a small reading of all of the above is ok as most tap water contained small levels , u need reverse osmosis in order to have zero Reading although even when cycling a tank I have no patientce so just rush and do regular water changes monitoring readings as long as u reduce feeding and do regular changes ur normally fine