Cycling question

[bellasly]

Ok, so I have my tank set-up and ready to go, I've got (or supposedly have) bacteria in it from a bottle that came with my tank. Now I need an ammonia source. I've read about using fish food, but didn't want to do this as it increases phosphate levels. On the other hand, if its not at walmart, I can't find pure ammonia anywhere...I'm going to walmart tonight.

If I can't find ammonia, how can I use fishfood while making it safe for fish ie. phosphate levels? Is there a phosphate remover I can get?

Also, I don't want to get fish food gunk all over my tank so I was wondering if using fishfood would still be effective if I put it in a mesh bag and hang it in the water?

Thanks!

[xoolooxunny]

Ok, so I have my tank set-up and ready to go, I've got (or supposedly have) bacteria in it from a bottle that came with my tank. Now I need an ammonia source. I've read about using fish food, but didn't want to do this as it increases phosphate levels. On the other hand, if its not at walmart, I can't find pure ammonia anywhere...I'm going to walmart tonight.

If I can't find ammonia, how can I use fishfood while making it safe for fish ie. phosphate levels? Is there a phosphate remover I can get?

Also, I don't want to get fish food gunk all over my tank so I was wondering if using fishfood would still be effective if I put it in a mesh bag and hang it in the water?

Thanks!

Do you mean safe for fish while cycling? Or are you planning on doing a fishless cycle? Make sure you get ammonia with no additives in it, and if you cant find it at walmart, do you have a dollar store or another grocery store around, they usually carry it. However, there are phosphate removers you can add to your filter, I have some in the form of a large pad that i can cut into squares. A mesh bag might be a little cleaner, the only problem might be that that's where all the bacteria would build up, and then you would end up removing it.

[bellasly]

Oh, sorry, its a fishless cycle. I've checked the two dollar stores and 3 grocery stores in my vicinity and none carry ammonia. Walmart is the next closest. So I'm checking there.

Duh...i had a moment. Of course it would all grow there... I'm a microbiology major. You'd think I'd know better...lol. Its seems I'm very intimidated by aquariums. I just want to provide a nice home for my fish. Maybe I should turn my brain on...lol.

Thanks!

[Chrona]

A few people here have had good luck with raw shrimp peels in a mesh bag.

[xoolooxunny]

A few people here have had good luck with raw shrimp peels in a mesh bag.

ahh, yes, i forgot about that one!!:thumb:

[kimmers318]

Anything that is in a bottle for live bacteria cultures isn't going to do much good except for biospira, as you probably already figured out since it seems you are researching very well before starting this projectthumbs2: .
Beware, all, too, that we stopped in at Petco last weekend just because it was next to the Outback where we had dinner. They are now keeping their cycle in the refridgerator, my guess is to fool people into thinking it really is live bacteria!
Good luck with your tank.

[Chrona]

Anything that is in a bottle for live bacteria cultures isn't going to do much good except for biospira, as you probably already figured out since it seems you are researching very well before starting this projectthumbs2: .
Beware, all, too, that we stopped in at Petco last weekend just because it was next to the Outback where we had dinner. They are now keeping their cycle in the refridgerator, my guess is to fool people into thinking it really is live bacteria!
Good luck with your tank.

lol! That is devious!

[gm72]

Shrimp peels are your only other good option besides the pure ammonia. Fish food is just not a good idea. Messy and not as effective. And messy, did I mention that?:ezpi_wink1:

[Faith_at_Large]

Have you tried your local grocery store in the cleaning isle? That is where I found mine. On the bottom shelf, no-name brand, nothing but ammonia and water. It was cheap and easy to use. I used 1 ml a day for my 10 gallon tank during a fishless cycle, until the end, then dropped to a slightly lower amount until I put my fish in.

Note that I had to look a couple of times before I found it. Even then I had to ask someone who worked there to see if they even carried the stuff. They weren't sure, but told me where I was most likely to find it. Flashier, puffed-up, more expensive and fragrant versions (Name Brands) of this product are often up higher up to entice shoppers (but are no good for aquariums).