Member

Posts: 55
From:canada
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-14-2004 09:33 PM         

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i need to know the best way i have a 30 gallon tank

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Member

Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-14-2004 10:15 PM         

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This article does a very good job of explaining the nitrogen cycle and why & how to do a fishless cycle.
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html

-Chelle

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Posts: 11
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-15-2004 08:17 AM         

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Depends on how long you want to wait. Fishless cycle is definitly the cheapest and best way to cycle your tank. If you have access to material from an established tank already it will greatly speed up the process. Either way plan on anywhere from 2-8 weeks for fishless cycle to complete. With your tank being rather small your cycle would probably be on the lower end of the time frame.

There are other cycle products out there....most of which are complete junk. Bio-Spira is probably the most reputable product out there and it claims to cycle your tank within 24hrs. If you do use this option though, test it with ammonia first before adding fish.

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Member

Posts: 55
From:canada
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-15-2004 09:56 AM         

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thanks for the info

i was thinking on going with the fish less cycle since i want a pretty fast cycle and it sounds pretty easy (which everyone likes)
but the mintute u do a test and all of the stuff is at zero then what do u do. Do u change the water and put ur fish in or do u just put the fish in and if u change the water anrt u starting the whole process over agien

please write bac telling me more

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Member

Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-15-2004 06:31 PM         

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By the end of the process, you should have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrIte, and some (probably high) amount of nitrAte. If the nitrAte is above 20ppm, it would deffinitely be a good idea to do a water change before adding fish. And no, doing water changes doesn't starte the cycle all over again. Cycling is the process of developing beneficial bacteria colonies in your filter media. When you do water changes, you are just removing the nitrAte which is the end product of the cycle.

-Chelle

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