Help with fishless cycle

[Chazbot]

Well it looks like there's going to be another tank in my future. I need somewhere to house the new fry I've caught. Anyway, I'm going to do a fishless cycle. I've still got a lot of time before these little ones will be big enough to leave the breeder. So I was thinking that I'll need some ammonia to put in the tank for cycling but where do I find it? I've got a friend who is also looking for some ammonia for the same reason and she can't seem to find it either. I know we don't want detergents or scents or anything like that so what do we use and where do we get it?

[robflanker]

why not just use some of the media from your established tanks?

*side note* you ought to think about bumping up the number of cories in your tanks. They are best in 6+

[angc84]

Hi,

Quoting Chris Cow's Fishless Cycling ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]) article...

"The most difficult part of the fishless cycling procedure, according to many postings on the message boards, involves finding a good source of ammonia. Ammonia used should be free of surfactants, perfumes, and colorants. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to ACS grade ammonium hydroxide. Always read the ingredients on the bottle. The best sources for Pure or Clear Ammonia are discount grocery stores or hardware stores. Often, the no-name brand is the stuff you're looking for. Some other people have reported success with the following brand names of ammonia: Top Crest or Whirl Clear Ammonia. To paraphrase RTR: If it doesn't list the ingredients, or say Clear Ammonia (or Pure Ammonia or 100% Ammonia, or Pure Ammonium Hydroxide), then leave it on the shelf and look elsewhere. Shake the bottle if you're not sure about it; ammonia with surfactants will foam, while good ammonia will not."

Good luck with your fishless cycle! I had access to laboratory reagent and it was easy for me to get ammonium hydroxide. =)

[Chazbot]

why not just use some of the media from your established tanks?

*side note* you ought to think about bumping up the number of cories in your tanks. They are best in 6+


Thanks Robflanker!!

LOL! DUH!!! Well yeah I could do that, BUT my 45 is in the process of getting re-cycled after treatment for a bacterial infection, so that's no good. My 2 10 gals both have brand new filters on them - I did put used media in them, but I don't want to remove any media from them right now while the new media is getting colonized. I got rid of some Top Fin filters - TOTAL JUNK! - and replaced with Aqua Clears - very nice!

But I don't think that's an option for my friend. I think she's gotten some used media, but has put it in another tank.

[Chazbot]

Hi,

Quoting Chris Cow's Fishless Cycling ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]) article...

"The most difficult part of the fishless cycling procedure, according to many postings on the message boards, involves finding a good source of ammonia. Ammonia used should be free of surfactants, perfumes, and colorants. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to ACS grade ammonium hydroxide. Always read the ingredients on the bottle. The best sources for Pure or Clear Ammonia are discount grocery stores or hardware stores. Often, the no-name brand is the stuff you're looking for. Some other people have reported success with the following brand names of ammonia: Top Crest or Whirl Clear Ammonia. To paraphrase RTR: If it doesn't list the ingredients, or say Clear Ammonia (or Pure Ammonia or 100% Ammonia, or Pure Ammonium Hydroxide), then leave it on the shelf and look elsewhere. Shake the bottle if you're not sure about it; ammonia with surfactants will foam, while good ammonia will not."

Good luck with your fishless cycle! I had access to laboratory reagent and it was easy for me to get ammonium hydroxide. =)

Thanks angc84!!

Good info there - I'll pass that along to my friend too!!

PS - Robflanker, we are planning on more Corys, just haven't gotten them yet.

[robflanker]

Ive no idea who Chris Cow is or what their qualifications are but I followed the guide in the fishless cycling forum with success.

The best way is with used media, which you clearly have a ton of. It'd be ready in hours as opposed to weeks/months with fishless

Ok no sweat- just wanted to check about the corys

[Chazbot]

Ive no idea who Chris Cow is or what their qualifications are but I followed the guide in the fishless cycling forum with success.

The best way is with used media, which you clearly have a ton of. It'd be ready in hours as opposed to weeks/months with fishless

Ok no sweat- just wanted to check about the corys


Yeah, I need to read over that guide again. Lady Hobbs wrote it didn't she?

But I do have to admit I'm just a bit paranoid about the used media. Will it be ok to take some out of a tank that I've just put a brand new filter on?

See, I have a Top Fin and an Aqueon on my 29 (both 30g filters). I just got another Aqueon to replace the Top Fin. I'm going to use the media currently in that one of course along with a little more good stuff in the new filter. Will it be ok to take some media out of the "old" Aqueon so soon after swapping out the other filter?

Of course I don't have the new tank yet. It'll be at least a week before I do get it.

Bear with me - I'm the paranoid type.

[robflanker]

1) Yes - the great Hobbs
2) No, unless it has truly used media in it. If its new media then there is no bacteria and hence useless for cycling
3) Is the 29g fully cycled? With the current media in the TF and Aqueon?

If so, then take the media out of the TF and put it in the new Aqueon. That'll be ready to go immediately. Or take the TF material to your new planned tank and your 29g will take a month to seed the material in the aqueon

[Taurus]

I'd use media from the "old" aqeon or the old top fin. It will have the largest, most mature baterial colonies on it. :22:

[Chazbot]

1) Yes - the great Hobbs
2) No, unless it has truly used media in it. If its new media then there is no bacteria and hence useless for cycling
3) Is the 29g fully cycled? With the current media in the TF and Aqueon?

If so, then take the media out of the TF and put it in the new Aqueon. That'll be ready to go immediately. Or take the TF material to your new planned tank and your 29g will take a month to seed the material in the aqueon


Ah the great Hobbs. LOL! She knows her stuff, though doesn't she!!

The 29 is fully cycled, yes. I'm going to take the media out of the TF and put it in the new Aqueon, but will be adding more media to the new Aqueon because it can handle it. The TF could hold very little media before it started overflowing. That's my whole problem. I'm not so sure I'm going to have any media to put in the new tank's filters. I don't want to move any media out of the Aqueon currently running on my 29 until this new filter is "stable" and the used media has had time to spread its goodies to the new media I'll be adding to it.

[Chazbot]

I'd use media from the "old" aqeon or the old top fin. It will have the largest, most mature baterial colonies on it. :22:

I'd like to, but I'm just not sure if that's going to be safe for my 29. See my last post. I'll be adding new media to the used from the TF. I've got to give that time to get all spread out and stable before I do anything else, right?

[Taurus]

What type of media was is in the Top Fin? Floss or polyester fiber material?

[Chazbot]

What type of media was is in the Top Fin? Floss or polyester fiber material?

Only the polyester stuff right now. That's all the stupid thing can handle without spitting water all over the place.

The Aqueons have a cool "screen" thing in them that the media rests on - great for extra bacteria! And I'll be adding some of those ceramic ring thingies in a mesh bag.

[bushwhacker]

guys i cant repeat this enough.. surfactants are not soap.!! they are a variety of chemicals use to break the surface tension of water so any soap can do a better job of cleaning. if the ammonia does not list detergent or scents it will be fine just shake the bottle.. no foam its fine

[Chazbot]

guys i cant repeat this enough.. surfactants are not soap.!! they are a variety of chemicals use to break the surface tension of water so any soap can do a better job of cleaning. if the ammonia does not list detergent or scents it will be fine just shake the bottle.. no foam its fine

Thanks Bushwacker!

So you're saying surfactants aren't bad?

[robflanker]

guys i cant repeat this enough.. surfactants are not soap.!! they are a variety of chemicals use to break the surface tension of water so any soap can do a better job of cleaning. if the ammonia does not list detergent or scents it will be fine just shake the bottle.. no foam its fine

Bushwhacker is right - they relieve surface tension

You actually have it in your lungs

[Chazbot]

Bushwhacker is right - they relieve surface tension

You actually have it in your lungs

Wow, really? That's wild! I'll keep all this in mind and pass it along to my friend.

Thanks everyone!!

[Mith]

Re pure amonia.... a good source is your local 99 cent store. I ran across one bottle though that said it was PURE amonia, but when shaken it foamed up a bit. Even though it says pure amonia, give the bottle a little shake first to make sure it doesn't foam up.