fishless cycling

[cocoa_pleco]

Well, time to cycle the new 20g. Ive always do cycling with fish, but will try fishless to not put any unneedes stress on a fish.

Do i just put in bloodworm and have the temp at 90

[Nautilus29]

Just go to a walmart and buy pure ammonia no additives. If you shake it and it sudds up then it has additives. Also it should look like water. Then put drops of ammonia in your tank everyday. Keep your ammonia at 5. and turn your heater up and it will cycle.

Also If you can find some bio-spera that is kept in a frig. it works wonders.

[f1oored]

Here you go!

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[cocoa_pleco]

sweet. Ill just throw in 2 big bottles of cycle, and add some danios in a week.
I dont know if i can get pure ammonia

[Chrona]

sweet. Ill just throw in 2 big bottles of cycle, and add some danios in a week.
I dont know if i can get pure ammonia

You can find pure ammonia at most department/hardware stores.

[cocoa_pleco]

okay, ill look for some at a hardware store.

[Chrona]

okay, ill look for some at a hardware store.

As nautilus said though, make sure it doesn't have any surfacants (shake it and see if bubbles form)

[cocoa_pleco]

found 100% ammonia at my parents house!

[Chrona]

found 100% ammonia at my parents house!

lol, always the cheapest solution ;)

[cocoa_pleco]

it just says household ammonia. Is that the right stuff?

The hood for the tank was a bitc* to put on. To use the aquaclear, you have to cut out a chunk of plastic like it shows in a booklet with scissors.
I threw out my back, but 3 hours later, everything is running.

You also have to cut out the 2 side holes for the hang-on heater, but im just gonna say screw it and buy another submersible to fit in the already small hole instead of fighting again

[muffin]

check what is all in there... it should only be ammonia, or ammonia and water... nothing else.. otherwise it isn't the right stuff.. did you shake it like others have suggested???

[cocoa_pleco]

it doesnt say if its mixed, but im 99% its 100% ammonia

[Nautilus29]

If it is clear like water It should be good. and if you shake it and there are no sudds.

[cocoa_pleco]

it looks clear, and if i shake it theres not soapy bubbles, just trapped oxygen bubbles

[Incredulous_Ed]

Sounds good

[cocoa_pleco]

sounds egg-celent. How much do I put in?

[Glasstapper]

Try putting 4 to 5 drops per gallon of water. Wait about 20 minutes and test the water. You're trying to get a reading of 5 ppm, so keep count of how many drops per gallon you're adding to achieve 5 ppm, then keep adding that until you see nitrites form. When you see nitrites, cut your ammonia drops in half. Keep going until both ammonia and nitrites read 0, then perform a 40% water change.

Voila! You're ready for fish! :)

Should take somewhere around two weeks or less.

[cocoa_pleco]

I wish i could swap one of my 3 HOBS on my 10 tall, but the 20g was a starter set and only a old skool aquaclear 150 will fit on the hood, not my new mini. Dang.

[Nautilus29]

retrofit your aquarium hood!!!:hmm3grin2orange:

[cocoa_pleco]

ill paint flowers and funky colors! lol

Ill silicone hemp as a background too!