have you ever done a fishless cycle

[bushwhacker]

and how long did it take

[mommy1]

i have never done a fishless cycle. when i started keeping fish over 30 years ago i had never heard of a fishless cycle.
when i got my current tanks they came complete with fish, filter, and decor so no chance to fishless cycle. and now that i have four tanks up and running when i get new tanks i have filter media to jump start a cycle.
i do, however, think that when i get my new tank next year i will put used media in and use ammonia for a while to make sure the cycle "took" before i add new fish into the tank.

[Northernguy]

Nope! I didn't hear about it until I joined the AC!
I did lose fish doing a fish in cycle.
I haven't had the need to try a fishless cycle.I don't plan on it either as long as I have a cycled tank.
I will advise to do a fishless cycle because I find it cheaper than buying all that aqua plus.Its expensive up here.

[Lady Hobbs]

Yup. Only took a couple weeks. I crank my heater up, tho, and add an airstone. Bacteria loves that heat and oxygen.

[Jaster]

I knew of the cycle thanks to this place, but I also learned about seeded filter media. thumbs2: I annoyed my fishguy until he gave me some to start my tank with. Now I always have extra media in my filters incase I have to start another tank. So my cycle took about 5 minutes... :hmm3grin2orange:

[Lady Hobbs]

I think most of us do that. But you have to start somewhere and that would be that very first tank. I also use mulm from the gravel and fill the tank full of driftwood from my other tanks. That wood holds a lot of bacteria.

[Wild Turkey]

Ive done quite a few now, mostly experimental so times vary or never finished at all for various reasons.

I have done fish in cycles before I knew about fishless like most others

[ISquishWorms]

I did a fishless cycle for my current 60 Litre tank. So far every fish I have put in there has survived and they look healthy and happy. I only just recently found a panda corry egg. :) I did my fishless cycle using the flake food method and this took quite a time to complete. I could of probably added fish earlier (it was more than 6 weeks before I added fish) than I did but I wanted to be on the safe side and also I had arranged to visit the LFS with my cousin so waited untill he could spare the time. The reason I wanted to wait till my cousin had time is that he is more experienced with fish keeping than I am so wanted his advice and it was worth waiting for.

ISquishWorms.

[Padams]

Started one but it was more worth it and the kids to add the fish and complete fish in. Would start the next one with fish but now I got SEEDED MEDIA!!!!

[Deleted User]

Interesting poll!!!

I did not know about fishless cycling until after I joined the AC.