Fishless cycle from scratch

[Ribica]

I recently bought a Fire tank that is 60cmx40cmx40cm (25 gallons) and I'm in the process of starting up a low tech (no CO2), low light planted tank and I'm not clear with the research that I am doing on how I start a fishless cycle without used media. For some context, I will be using aqua soil substrate in islands where I will be planting and gravel for the rest of the substrate and an AquaClear hang off the back filter that I had a while back since I'm easing my way back into the hobby. This filter has both carbon and ammonia cartridges. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mike L]

Not sure what an ammonia cartridge is but here is an article that should help
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fishless_cycle.php

[Ribica]

Thanks. It's one of the cartridges that can be purchased for the AquaClear filter that removes ammonia.

[missavgp]

If you are doing a fishless cycle, you don't want to have the ammonia removal insert in the filter. You need to have ammonia in the tank to feed the bacteria and get the cycle going. You will need to add a source of ammonia such as a pinch of fish food left to decay or I use Old Country Ammonia from Home Hardware as it has no additives, scents or soaps that cannot be added to an aquarium. Dose up to a 2ppm reading and maintain that to establish a good colony of bacteria. It should take 3-6 weeks to get a good cycle going. Once the tank has reached the point that dosing to 2ppm of ammonia is gone in 24hrs with a 0ppm ammonia and nitrite reading and a high nitrate reading, do a large (75-90%) water change and you will be good to go.

[Ribica]

Thanks a bunch for the feedback. Would I be able to plant the tank first before cycling using this method or do I have to wait until after the cycle to plant? Is there another cycle method if I want to plant first?

[Mike L]

Feel free to add your plants. They will have no negative effects on the process. If you haven't read the article I posted please do. It is full of good information. I just finished a cycle on one of my tanks. Purchased the ammonia at Canadian tire. Just make sure to get clear ammonia. I had a hard time finding some.

[Ribica]

Great thanks. I just wasn't sure since the article didn't make any reference to plants. Also, the article mentions that I should leave the lights off but since I'm using plants, is this still the case? Sorry for the multiple questions but I just want to make sure my reintroduction to the hobby is a good one 

[missavgp]

I've always planted my tanks and use timers on my lights for the 8-10 hours a day depending on intensity that I plan on keeping up once stocked with fish. I find the cycling is really good for plant growth. The ammonia I use is:
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Indoor-Living/Home-Commercial-Cleaning/Cleaners/Household/All-Purpose-Rtu/900mL-Ammonia-All-Purpose-Cleaner/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I4521716?Ntt=ammonia

[charlie]

Welcome back to the hobby, more so the planted aspect of the hobby.
Ammonia is used up by plants, so there is no issue with planting before the tank is cycled.
There is a approach to cycling a tank with plants also called the silent cycle, here is a link with some info on it.
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_silent_cycling.php.
Welcome to the clubs web site.

[Mike L]

Great article Errol. Thanks for that.

[Ribica]

I second that. Thanks to everyone for their input!

[wrm130]

Everyone here knows i love dirted tanks 

I recently tried an experiment.  6g tank with 5 small flower pots (tennis ball size) with mgops in them. I planted plants in them as Well. Tank cycled in a week. Aqua clear 20. Sponge only.

You could try going this route.temporarily of course.

Also,  i would suggest starting at 6hrs of light until the tank matures a bit.

[Ribica]

Great thanks. I just set up my substrate today and placed my driftwood and stones. Next the plants. I'm pretty pumped to get it started but got to get the plants first.

[Stussi613]

Everyone here knows i love dirted tanks 

Everyone on the internet knows you love dirted tanks 

[angelcraze]

You mean all the senior folks on OVAS knows he loves dirted tanks, but there is point he has about cycling a tank without fish.  I cycled a dirted tank in a week, one day of cloudiness, the dirt is your source of ammonia, and provides a great medium for plants to grow.  The only thing I am skeptical about now is deep dirt beds as I am having some minor issues in my 90g lately.  I imagine that would apply to any plant substrate, it requires more maintenance for aeration.  But we are not talking about deep dirt beds and layered, scaped tanks anyway at this point.

[Stussi613]

Get some assassin snails Angelcraze, they'll work through that sand bed for you. 

We do the same thing in reef tanks with nassarius snails, you rarely see see them out of the sand unless there's too much food, or something dies in the tank.

[missavgp]

I also like assassin snails for this, they are less prolific than Malaysian trumpet snails and prettier

[angelcraze]

Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for the advice,  Yes, I do have breeding assassins, lots, but I think there is something greater happening here.  After I wrote that I poked the crap out of it with a skewer.  My male BN was livid with me, I hope I didn't move too much around, then syphoned whatever I could in the cave.  YES, he was angry with my syphon hose, but I kept the water in a bucket and searched scruptiously for eggs and/or fry, but saw none.

I just added some young angelfish, cause I ran out of space, so I want to keep that tank very clean.  The plan is to do a lot of w/c and careful, but thorough siphoning or any rotting organics.  Thorough cleaning of the canister filter I have for it, without destroying all the bio AND often.  I have more plans, but it gets into other discussions not related to the OP's topic.     

[wolfiewill]

.......I will be using aqua soil substrate in islands where I will be planting and gravel for the rest of the substrate.......

You said you are using Aqua soil? Is that ADA Amazonia perhaps? If so you need not worry about getting ammonia from a store. It has lots that will leach out nicely for about a month, which should take care of any need to kick start the Nitrogen cycling.

[Ribica]

Thanks wolfiewill. It's not the ADA Amazonia but a version called LAMBO a line from Netlea that I picked up from aqua inspiration.