Fishless Cycling my tank - A Few Questions

[Cichlid_Man]

I have found a source of ammonia and started cycling my 30 gallon.

I have a reading of about 5ppm of ammonia at the time.

Question 1. Do I keep adding the ammonia source daily, or now that there is a reading, just wait for nitrites?

Question 2. My tank went from crystal clear to very cloudy.
Is this just like new tank syndrome, except without the fish?

Question 3. When tank has cycled, do I do a water change before adding fish?

Thanks~!

[minabird]

Cichlid_Man-

I've never used fishless cycling, but I did run across this link on fishless cycling:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

As a quick answer, here's their process using ammonia:

"Option 3:
Use 100% pure ammonia.
Using a dropper, add 5 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you start to get nitrite readings with your test kit. Once you can detect nitrites you should only add 3 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you get nitrate readings with your test kit. Do a 30% water change and your tank is ready."

Good luck with the cycling!

[Cichlid_Man]

Cichlid_Man-

I've never used fishless cycling, but I did run across this link on fishless cycling:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

As a quick answer, here's their process using ammonia:

"Option 3:
Use 100% pure ammonia.
Using a dropper, add 5 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you start to get nitrite readings with your test kit. Once you can detect nitrites you should only add 3 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you get nitrate readings with your test kit. Do a 30% water change and your tank is ready."

Good luck with the cycling!

Very informative article...Thanks a lot...
I figured I would give fishless cycling a try. I have another tank with fish already in it so I have time and patience for this one.

[Fishguy2727]

Do not go by the cetain drops per gallon. Different quality ammonias have differing amounts of water in them so one drop may be more concentrated than another brand's drop. 5.0 is perfect and you need to keep adding the same amount of ammonia daily until you add the fish. The only reason to do a water change is like normal, nitrates are too high. It would not hurt to do a water change before the fish go in, but it is not required either. Yes, the nitrifying bacteria are now overpopulating causing the cloudiness, as with normal cycling, it will go away by the end of the cycle.

[Cichlid_Man]

Reptileguy,
You are the best!

I wasn't sure if I should keep adding ammonia. It's not going to go away, but I understand the reasoning now.

I actually used about one dozen shrimp peelings.
The other night we had shrimp, and I put all the peelings in a media bag and got an ammonia reading in 2 days!
I have it hanging right by the water flow

Instead of adding ammonia drops, I'll just add fish food daily until I get a nitrite reading.
This is awesome.

[Lady Hobbs]

I've been reading about the fishless cycling as well and think it's the smart way to go.

I did read that once nitrites start to appear, to drop back to half the amount of ammonia each day. Add daily until ammonia is at 0 and nitrates are at 0. Nitrates will then be quite high so do the big water change to lower them and add your fish.

It takes longer for the nitrites eating bacteria to build than for the ammonia bacteria to form and that's why nitrites can linger longer.

I think you should cut back on the ammonia you are adding to half. If you add more ammonia than the bacteria can get rid of, that white water effect happens.

[Cichlid_Man]

I think that is what I am seeing now.

White water...I mean, you can't see from the front to the back of the tank.

I am headed to town tomorrow.I'll invest in a small bottle of stress zyme. It really sped things up last time.

It'll give the bacteria a jump start.

Too bad I medicated my 75 gallon!

I could have taken 30 gallons from there for the new tank!

[kimmers318]

Sounds like you are on your way to a nice healthy cycled tank! Glad to see someone use the fishless cycling methods, it is so much healthier for the fish. Don't forget....you can also "clone" tanks from your existing tank by using media and decor to instantly add the good bacteria. I have done this several times and just added fish slowly and all has been well. I used danios to cycle my first 2 10 gallons and watched 2 of them slowly get crippled and die several months later, which convinces me that even the "hardy" fish don't deserve to cycle a tank. Congrats on getting a new tank and doing things the fishless way! What are you planning on stocking this one with?

[Fishguy2727]

If you cut the amount of ammonia in half you are limiting the amount of bioload the colonies of bacteria your are starting can handle. I would still add the full dose so you know your colonies are ready for whatever you throw at them. Nitrites last longer because the bacteria that breaks down ammonia turns ammonia into nitrites. So the nitrites aren't there until the bacteria make them. Then the bacteria that turns nitrites into nitrates can't start until the nitrites are evne there, so they will be there longer. Yout nitrate levels will vary so it is good to check them once the cycle is done. if they are over 20ppm I would do a water change.

[Cichlid_Man]

If you cut the amount of ammonia in half you are limiting the amount of bioload the colonies of bacteria your are starting can handle. I would still add the full dose so you know your colonies are ready for whatever you throw at them. Nitrites last longer because the bacteria that breaks down ammonia turns ammonia into nitrites. So the nitrites aren't there until the bacteria make them. Then the bacteria that turns nitrites into nitrates can't start until the nitrites are evne there, so they will be there longer. Yout nitrate levels will vary so it is good to check them once the cycle is done. if they are over 20ppm I would do a water change.

Well it looks like I am right on target then...
I see your point about the continuation of adding ammonia.

Once again..Thank you

[Lady Hobbs]

So right Kimmers. I doubt I will ever cycle with fish again. Too much stress for them and us.