Cycling a new tank.

I'm getting *A LOT* of conflicting information on the cycling
process through my reading on the Internet and books. Some say "using
fish to cycle the tank is the old way", don't describe it at all, then
continue on describing the cycling process using chemicals. Others
say the chemical method is just an option.
I'd like to cycle the tank using fish, but I get conflicting
information on that too. Some say only one or two of any type of easy
fish to take care of. Others say only damsels, and one even said to
load the tank up with 1 inch of fish for every 2 gallons of water,
then give the fish back to the pet store.
These people seem to know what they're talking about, but I'd
just like to hear how actual people have done it, and any opinions on
the best way for a beginner to go about it.

Greg Miller (gmiller at gregmiller dot net)
http://www.gregmiller.net
http://www.net-chess.com

I agree with the previous posters: Don't use fish to cycle a new tank! It is
an unnecessary and inhumane method, increasingly frowned upon by serious
aquarists.

I successfully used household ammonia to cycle a brand-new 5-gallon
aquarium.

The short version is that after 14 days, the bacterial colony in that little
5-gallon tank was fully metabolizing 3ML of household ammonia each day in
about 11 hours. I was very conservative, and carefuly monitored nitrite
levels over the next 8 days, while adding daily 1ML maintenance doses of
ammonia.

For the full story, with pictures and references, take a look at:
http://members.cox.net/gbundersea/aq...on/cycling.htm

Also see my Jensalt sump horror story site:
http://members.cox.net/~gbundersea/a...s/badsumps.htm

--

Greg Bunch
gbundersea AT cox DOT net
http://www.gbundersea.com
Creator of the Digital Lens Dock,
MXTENDER Optical Strobe Cable System
for the Sea&Sea MX-10, and the Save-A-Lens Kit
for MX-10 and Motormarine


"Greg Miller" wrote in message
news
I'm getting *A LOT* of conflicting information on the cycling
process through my reading on the Internet and books. Some say "using
fish to cycle the tank is the old way", don't describe it at all, then
continue on describing the cycling process using chemicals. Others
say the chemical method is just an option.
I'd like to cycle the tank using fish, but I get conflicting
information on that too. Some say only one or two of any type of easy
fish to take care of. Others say only damsels, and one even said to
load the tank up with 1 inch of fish for every 2 gallons of water,
then give the fish back to the pet store.
These people seem to know what they're talking about, but I'd
just like to hear how actual people have done it, and any opinions on
the best way for a beginner to go about it.

Greg Miller (gmiller at gregmiller dot net)
http://www.gregmiller.net
http://www.net-chess.com