So, I've read a bit about cycling. Where to get stuff?

[Jackiee]

So, I've read some stuff about cycling. Now, how do I actually test it?


I've read that you have to add a certain amount of ammonia to your tank (I'll probably have just one fish in my 29 gallon for the cycle) How do you add it? Would this work? (from petco)

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.a...tList.aspx?PC=productlist&Nav=229&N=24%20130&PC=productlist&Nav=229&N=24+130




Please leave any additional tips. Thanks!

 

[rich311k]

That test would work. This one is better in my opinion. http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=2255
You do not need any fish to cycle. Just use pure ammonia.

Read this article. Ignore the salt water part. http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=15

 

[Fishyfanatic]

If you want to cycle fishless, use pure ammonia from a hardware store. Ace sells a pure ammonia. But make sure it is pure, no fragrances. The link that you provided is a test kit. Are you asking how you test the water or how to add the ammonia? If you are wanting to test the water, I'd recommend the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit. Basically you add water to the test vials and add the solution to the vials. It comes with a simple instruction booklet.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3111;pcid1=3233;pcid2=

 

[Fishyfanatic]

LOL! Should I just delete my post Rich since we said the exact same thing.

 

[bosk1]

And make sure it is PURE ammonia--no phosphates or other additives. I got a tip from one of the articles I read (now I can't remember where it was, but somebody on this site linked me to it): Keep adding and testing until you get your ammonia up to 4-5 ppm to start with. That will be enough to get you going. Write down somewhere how many capfuls it took you to get to that amount.

 

[TomK2]

Do not add ammonia if you have a fish in there. The Ace hardware has a 10% solution, and if my memory is correct, 0.34 ml is 1 ppm in ten gallons. If you are going to usa a real live fish as an ammonia source, then you have to use very, very, few fish and be prepared for many water changes if ammonia or nitrite get too high. If you only had 2 or three inches of fish in your 29 gal, and you fed sparingly, you could probably get a cycle done in 2 months without high ammonia levels. The link below is for more info, don't use fish if you are not the patient type.

http://home.comcast.net/~tomstank/tomstank_files/page0017.htm