Newbie doing Fishless Cycling!

[AznHmongLor]

Alright everyone, I probably will need alot of help since Im trying to start an aquarium. So just today July 1st, I filled my 20 gallon long tank with tap water and I am using the city's water. Now I was wondering if I can bypass the dechlorinating of my water if I just let it sit for a couple days? Also I do not have any kind of aquarium kit or ammonia drops or anything. What are my chances of keeping some fish alive if I just keep the water fishless for like a month or so? And right now my tank is sitting there with a powerhead pumping oxygen in the water with no gravel, no filter, no plants, no nothing. Any suggestions for me? I tried this once with sand in the tank and ended with dead fish because the water turned red and the fish started growing fungus and stuff on it and they all perished within a couple of days. So now here I am starting over and asking all I can. Thanks!

[rangur1]

there is an e-book available in the left column you can access for info on nitrogen cycle.
running your tank will not accomplish the cycling, you need to add PURE ammonia [available at ACE hardware stores] make sure there is no fragrancees or surfactants. a liquid test kit is vital,i recommend API master freshwater test kit.
add ammonia 3-4 drops per 5 gal water [20gal=12-16 drops] per day until your test kit reads 5 ppm. now, with the tank filter running and heater working, you just wait until bacteria establishes itself [approx 1-4weeks]
testing water will reveal ammonia levels dropping , a nitrite spike which will also drop. once both ammonia AND nitrite read 0 , tank is ready for fish.

note: once ammonia reads 0ppm add few drops ammonia each day. this keeps newly established bacteria alive, stop day prior to fish being put in.
any questions?

[Danh_vu]

First of all, get a master test kit. API makes a good cheap one.

Read the cycling sticky if you haven't already.

Second, you should get some substrate (gravel or sand) and a filter so beneficial bacteria grows on it.

When doing fishless, you need some kind of ammonia source. It could be liquid ammonia, fish food, shrimp.

Also, to speed it up the cycling process, get a heater and set to 82 degrees farenheit.

When testing water, it should go like this: ammonia>nitrite>nitrate

[AznHmongLor]

Hey Thanks for the comments so far guys but yeah so I dont have alot of money to spend. It seems that I'll have to get the test kit and the ammonia but would have to wait on the filter. But right now I have a powerhead pump which has a sponge that looks like a tube that goes down into my thank. Can bacteria grow on that? and Also I see that I'll need gravel too for the bacteria to grow but can rocks be used instead? I know it sounds like I'm trying to be cheap but Im actually moving in about 2 months so I just wanted to see what it takes to get a nice cycle going for now. And about the ammonia you said there was some in fish food? so If I put some flakes in the tank and take them out later that contributes the the ammonia level?

[jackson17]

You could try to add some tetra safe start to, but these products have mixed results so no gurantee lol. But as for other input, its all been pretty much hit. Just read up on the ebook

[metallspuerhunde]

You can crumble some flakes up in there. I used the method with the liquid ammonia right out of the bottle, bought really cheap in most hardware stores or even Wallmart.

Bacteria grows on any surface, so the rocks would be fine...but are you talking a couple big rocks or a rocky subtrate? I'd suggest you go ahead and put in your gravel or whatever, but you said you're moving...so I understand you don't want to try moving a tank that weighs a ton because of all the gravel in it. If you choose to put a few rocks in now, you're best to buy them from some sort of pet store as rocks taken from the wild can leach dangerous stuff into the water.

This will take a lot of patience and diligence on your part but it's well worth it. thumbs2:

[AznHmongLor]

Thanks for all the helpful comments, more would be greatly appreciated. But yes Im just letting my tank sit now.