Cycling my First Tank

[LebronTheBetta]

You NEED a filter, no questions asked. It's what starts the cycle, it's where the colony begins. If there's no filter, then the cycling process won't even start at all. Let me quote "You NEED a filter, no questions asked.". There's no but or if, it's just the way things are. (;

As Hallyx as said, doing 100% changes will kill off the BB that we need. It's everywhere in the tank. Decorations, water, and especially in the media. You can do 80% changes but don't take out all the water. OFL does recommend 2 50% changes per week. 1 with vacuuming and 1 just with water.

Just do 2 50% changes per week for 4-6 weeks and you're good to go. Get a liquid test kit, preferably API. If any ammonia shows up, then do a water change. But DON'T do it everyday. This will stress the fish and will bring down their immune response.

I don't recommend Prime in the cycling process as this will give false readings if ammonia. Even if it may be possible to injure your fish, you still don't want that to happen.

Co2 is not needed for all plants. I presume filters don't produce Co2, just gas exchange. Easy and hardy plants such as Java Moss and Duckweed don't really need anything at all so you don't need to worry about that.

Good luck.

[Hallyx]

Lebron,

The water has to be conditioned while cycling to avoid poisoning your bacteria with chlorine. Prime works for this and it also turns ammonia into harmless ammonium for a couple of days...ammonium which can be used by the bacteria. It's an excellent product to use while cycling.

I understand some conditioners and ammonia reducers remove the ammonia; this is counterproductive.

[reaperscreepers]

thanks guys..

right now i m changing water for the dew days..

guppies in my cycling tank looks very healthy and happy..

im using aged water with genesis anti-chlorine for every WC..
Each time i change about 40% of the water and i do it everyday!
will WC everyday affect the bacterias?

i did not do any ammonia/nitrite test yet as i got no time to get the test kit..

anyway, is it wise to put a mini pleco fish in the tank?
Will the Pleco suck away all the good bacteria?

[katydidmischief]

My live plants have been growing fine without a CO2 booster.

EDIT: Whoops, didn't see the additional pages. :/

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by Hallyx

Lebron,

The water has to be conditioned while cycling to avoid poisoning your bacteria with chlorine. Prime works for this and it also turns ammonia into harmless ammonium for a couple of days...ammonium which can be used by the bacteria. It's an excellent product to use while cycling.

I understand some conditioners and ammonia reducers remove the ammonia; this is counterproductive.

I know the new water has to be conditioned prior to putting it back in. I just don't recommend the conditioner Prime as it can give off false readings. That will be confusing to the owner. So the BB can eat up ammonium as well? :o

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by reaperscreepers

thanks guys..

right now i m changing water for the dew days..

guppies in my cycling tank looks very healthy and happy..

im using aged water with genesis anti-chlorine for every WC..
Each time i change about 40% of the water and i do it everyday!
will WC everyday affect the bacterias?

i did not do any ammonia/nitrite test yet as i got no time to get the test kit..

anyway, is it wise to put a mini pleco fish in the tank?
Will the Pleco suck away all the good bacteria?

Doing water changes everyday won't harm the bacteria but it will stress out the fish. You can just do 2-3 50% changes per week. The Pleco would just add more ammonia so I don't think that's a good idea. Oh, and "cleaner" fish don't eat BB.

[reaperscreepers]

Originally Posted by LebronTheBetta

Doing water changes everyday won't harm the bacteria but it will stress out the fish. You can just do 2-3 50% changes per week. The Pleco would just add more ammonia so I don't think that's a good idea. Oh, and "cleaner" fish don't eat BB.

hmmm, i think i should take out the pleco then.. need to find another home for him..

okay thanks a lot guys!