Fishless Cycling

[mcarroll]

If it can't be 10', don't sweat it.....a 60G QT is miles better than almost anyone provides no matter where you place it.

Are you able to buy locally, BTW?

 

[Instigate]

The ammonia? No, I ordered it from amazon. It'll be here Saturday. I'm in San Diego, CA btw. Not like I'm in the middle of nowhere. There just happens to not be any Ace Hardware or Walmart in the Mira Mesa area of SD.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Look up dr.tim's ammonia online. Its pure ammonia meant for fishless cycling. Much easier to control the ammonia levels than with shrimp

 

[Instigate]

Look up dr.tim's ammonia online. Its pure ammonia meant for fishless cycling. Much easier to control the ammonia levels than with shrimp

I had found that stuff but felt bad about paying $8 for 2 fl oz. When ammonia is like $2 a gallon... But I found some ammonia that is JUST ammonia and water, $8 for 32 oz, which isn't great but felt more acceptable. At least I wont run out.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

I had found that stuff but felt bad about paying $8 for 2 fl oz. When ammonia is like $2 a gallon... But I found some ammonia that is JUST ammonia and water, $8 for 32 oz, which isn't great but felt more acceptable. At least I wont run out.

At least you found some of the stuff. Its good that you can control ammonia levels for your cycle.

 

[jeff williams]

Just a quick note your 10 gallon tank will never cycle without some kind of media in it. I know qt are bare bottom but you are going to have to add sponge at least to the HOB I would fill it up with as much as possible. Also I would seed the sponge ( I'm assuming your using bottled bacteria) pour it on the sponge and add tank water in a container let it soak over night then add it to your hob and start it up and add the ammonia. Also you can buy dr Tims ammonia at dr foster and smith for like 2$ If you buy your bacteria from dr Tims he will throw in the ammonia free. I also used ace hardware ammonia janitorial grade and it surfactant in it and I had no problems with it.

 

[Instigate]

Just a quick note your 10 gallon tank will never cycle without some kind of media in it. I know qt are bare bottom but you are going to have to add sponge at least to the HOB I would fill it up with as much as possible. Also I would seed the sponge ( I'm assuming your using bottled bacteria) pour it on the sponge and add tank water in a container let it soak over night then add it to your hob and start it up and add the ammonia. Also you can buy dr Tims ammonia at dr foster and smith for like 2$ If you buy your bacteria from dr Tims he will throw in the ammonia free. I also used ace hardware ammonia janitorial grade and it surfactant in it and I had no problems with it.

For sure, the only reason im not running it without the sponge in it is because the gear is used and id like to get new spong i think

 

[jeff williams]

For sure, the only reason im not running it without the sponge in it is because the gear is used and id like to get new spong i think

I wouldn't wast your time until you get a sponge filter and get the biggest one you can it will help. Just a little info on surfactants here's a good way to tell if there soap shake the bottle of it suds up don't use it if it bubbles up and the bubbles set out quickly it should be ok

 

[mcarroll]

The ammonia?

I meant livestock. Fish in particular.

 

[Annahra]

Just get some polyfill from a craft store for your filter.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

I recommend ceramic media as if harbor bacteria and don't absorb medications.
Here is a guide to setup a at I wrote a while back. Hope it helps.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/guide-to-setup-a-quarantine-tank-qt.297476/

 

[Instigate]

I meant livestock. Fish in particular.

There is one place that just does coral and another place that has fish and gear and whatnot. I haven't been in the regular fish store place yet but I checked out the coral only place, they had a ton of stuff and the people there were cool.

Just get some polyfill from a craft store for your filter.

Thanks, I was not liking the pricing I was finding for replacement filters. And the reviews were saying they were not nearly the quality of the original replacement filters for the Aquaclear filters.

I recommend ceramic media as if harbor bacteria and don't absorb medications.
Here is a guide to setup a at I wrote a while back. Hope it helps.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/guide-to-setup-a-quarantine-tank-qt.297476/

I'll check it out.

 

[Mandrew]

Look up dr.tim's ammonia online. Its pure ammonia meant for fishless cycling. Much easier to control the ammonia levels than with shrimp

+1 I was just going to suggest this since you were ordering it online.

 

[mcarroll]

There is one place that just does coral and another place that has fish and gear and whatnot. I haven't been in the regular fish store place yet but I checked out the coral only place, they had a ton of stuff and the people there were cool.

Get to know your local fish place! Find out if they do well with thier fish and watch their stock come and go for at least a few weeks. Pay attention to everything...how the healthy fish do, how the unhealthy fish do...how they do feeding and what they feed. Ask questions when you can, about anything and everything.

Remember this is recon at least as much as it is learning....find out how much they know. Does what they know agree with what you know? Is their info better?

All of this observation will let you figure out how to buy from them safely and happily. It does take a long time to buy fish this way, but buying fish isn't where you want to get into a hurry!

(Post or PM me any detail questions.)

Also, I completely forgot to mention that you ought to check out all the relevant stickies in the Fish Discussion section. In particular I like @SeahorseKeeper's sticky titled How to Properly Quarantine Fish.