Ok, we all know how important cycling a new aquarium is. We all know that beneficial bacteria is crucial to establishing and keeping a safe environment for fish. But, assuming you don't already have an established aquarium that you can use something from to seed a new aquarium, where does the beneficial bacteria come from?
Is it in my tap water? Since I used filtered water, will a beneficial bacteria colony not start? Is there a natural source of beneficial bacteria that I can use (i.e. river water, river rocks, etc) to speed up the process and introduce the right kind of bacteria?
I've been doing a fish-less cycle for three weeks. Ammonia is 0, but nitrites have held between 1-2 ppm. Nitrates 0. I add a flake or two of fish food a day. I've tried products like "Nutrafin cycle" and "Tetra Safestart", but the levels aren't changing at all, up or down.
I haven't done any water changes, but the tank is clear, the canister filter is working well, there's no foul odor or anything. There's obviously some bacteria converting ammonia to nitrites, but the nitrites aren't going up or down and there aren't any nitrates.
I'm tired of waiting for the tank to magically cycle. The bacteria has to come from somewhere and there has to be a better way of introducing it and getting the tank to cycle faster.
Is it in my tap water? Since I used filtered water, will a beneficial bacteria colony not start? Is there a natural source of beneficial bacteria that I can use (i.e. river water, river rocks, etc) to speed up the process and introduce the right kind of bacteria?
I've been doing a fish-less cycle for three weeks. Ammonia is 0, but nitrites have held between 1-2 ppm. Nitrates 0. I add a flake or two of fish food a day. I've tried products like "Nutrafin cycle" and "Tetra Safestart", but the levels aren't changing at all, up or down.
I haven't done any water changes, but the tank is clear, the canister filter is working well, there's no foul odor or anything. There's obviously some bacteria converting ammonia to nitrites, but the nitrites aren't going up or down and there aren't any nitrates.
I'm tired of waiting for the tank to magically cycle. The bacteria has to come from somewhere and there has to be a better way of introducing it and getting the tank to cycle faster.