Question on using Ferts to cycle tank.

[reef12]

Okay if you are using Dry Ferts dosed as according to tank size, would they not replace having to use ammonia to cycle the tank as both Nitrate and Nitrites.

Jeff

[Cliff]

I'm not too sure I understand your question. Your tank is cycled when you grow bacteria needed to convert ammonia into nitrites, and other bacteria to convert nitrites into nitrates.

Unless the ferts have high level of ammonia, that won't help you to cycle a tank. It might be a lot cheaper just to use pure ammonia

[reef12]

I guess maybe better I have been using Ammonia along with Ferts , but no reading on the Ammonia side just the Nitrite and Nitrate.

Jeff

[Stlouisfish]

I would assume that if you have no reading for ammonia, then your ferts don't contain any.

That won't cycle your tank - you need ammonia to do that.

Ferts are helpful if you have plants (obviously LOL) but ammonia is necessary to cycle a tank - whether adding it yourself (as Cliff stated, pure ammonia, which is quicker & doesn't harm anything) or cycling with fish in the tank (their ammonia does the same thing but not at fast).

It sounds like you know about cycling - it's a matter of starting it.