can someone explain fishless cycleing. and the pros and cons of it?

Answer 1

It using pure ammonia (or a pinch of fish food or shrimp for an ammonia source as these decompose) instead of fish wastes to encourage the growth of a population of bacteria in your aquarium.

Ammonia is toxic to aquatic organisms, but this is used as an energy source by one type of bacteria. By metabolising the ammonia, it's converted to nitrite, which is also toxic. Another group of bacteria convert the nitrite to nitrate, which is relatively harmless, unless it's in high concentrations.

You can speed up the process some by introducing bacteria by using some gravel or a filter pad from an established tank (as long as there are no diseases, parasites, or algae problems - you don't wwant to introduce these to your tank as well!).

Some advantages are that you don't need to do partial water changes while the tank is cycling - you want all the ammonia so the bacteria can take advantage of it and multiply. By not having to do the water changes, it may speed up the time it will take for the tank to cycle, especially if you "seed" the bacteria from another tank. You'll also not be risking the deaths of any fish by having them in the tank when the ammonia and nitrite are present before sufficient bacteria are in the tank for their conversion. You can also raise the temperature to encourage bacterial reproduction, even to a temperature your fish may not appreciate for long periods (86-90+).

About the only cons I can think of is that since you'll be adding sources of ammonia and not changing the tank water, you may notice an odor from the tank (the ammonia), plus you'll have to wait longer to see fish in the tank.

Answer 2

I really enjoyed copper's answer the most. One thing I found really odd is that people actually think that putting hardy fish that have evolved over the years to adjust to nearly any climate and enviroment is torture??? I guess I missed the boat on a lot of things then. Basically as they all have said, you don't have to do partial water changes to remove physical waste is about your biggest advantage. One distinct disadvantage I can think of, is you are forced to monitor your levels rather intensively, more so then using fish. By having some hardy very adept fish in there, in small amount, and accelerating the time in that enviroment by using media from established tanks, you have something in the water to at least look at, and can observe the signs of distress. You'd have to take readings to make sure yes, but with fish, you also have something live there to monitor. White clouds and zebra danios are very hardy fish almost always reccomended for cycling because they can adapt well. The levels in the tank should not get lethal if you watch your feedings close enough.

With the fishless cycle, instead of feeding your fish, you put in some ammonia daily, kinda have to or your established bacteria gets wiped out (bummer huh?) You really want to measure the levels at least daily just so you don't lose your bacterica culture if it isn't getting enough ammonia ect...vs just taking care of your fish. You could just about do an every other day feeding with cycle fish, and you'll still get constant ammonia from respiration alone. I've never done a fishless, but I think it's at least the same amount of work, maybe more you'd need to watch though. And I certainly don't think unless you set out to do it, or just didn't read up enough about fish care, that you are torturing fish used for cyclying out.

JV

Answer 3

It's generally easier then cycling with fish. With fish, you need to do daily water changes to try to keep the fish alive. Which could also prolong the cycle.
It's cheaper, you don't have to waste your money on fish that will most likely die, or get sick and spend money on meds trying to treat them.
And it's just all around more healthier for the fish not putting them through the stress of ammonia and nitrite spikes.

Can't really think of any cons to it. Honestly, I've never tried this method. I have several tanks running with tons of filters, and keep a few of those mesh bags in some of the tanks or filters with some bacteria bio balls. So, if I need to set up a tank for quarantine, fry, or just a new tank, I add that mesh bag to the filter when I add the fish for an almost instant cycle. My opinion, that's the best way to do it, if you have a friend or family member with a disease free tank, just use some of their gravel or filter media. I've never lost any fish doing it that way.

Easiest way to do it, get a cocktail or salad shrimp, and put it in a mesh bag(can buy at the pet store in the filter media section) or cut off the leg on a pair of pantyhose/nylons and put the shrimp in that. Knot the top and toss in the tank and let it rot. The shrimp will put out ammonia-thus starting the cycling process. Just monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels to see where the process is at, and don't change the water. Add more as it evaporates though. When there's 0 ammonia and nitrites, and some nitrates are showing, remove shrimp, do a water change to get the nitrates below 20 ppm, and add your fish.

Answer 4

Sure. Fishless cycling is what it sounds like: starting the nitrification cycle without fish. This is done by introducing a source of ammonia to the water which the nitrosomas and nitrosonomas consume and convert into nitrite. Nitrite is then consumed by bacteria and is converted into nitrates. Nitrates is much safer for fish then the previous two and, in a planted tank, is consumed by the plants resulting in oxygen.

For detailed instructions, read this site: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php

The pros are: you need not change the water during the process, and no fish are left in the tank to suffer the effects of ammonia or nitrites; both toxic poisons to fish.

Addition: Be sure to use bubble stones and an airpump. Without adding oxygen, you will grow colonies on anaerobic bacteria (They do not live in an oxygenated environment.) which will be like in a septic system. When oxygen is introduced later, via: water changes, live plants, air stone, etc. the anaerobic bacteria will die off leaving nothing to oxidize the ammonia or nitrite causing both to spike as if you are just starting a 'with fish cycle'

I do not know of any cons.... Maybe for the occasional greedy pet store owner who can not sell you fish, then sale you replacement fish.

Hope this helps!
Jason C

Answer 5

fishless cycling is the same as fish(full?) cycling except you don't add a fish you add another source of ammonia.
daily capfuls of ammonia, a raw shrimp in a nylon, some fish food. anything organic to decompose in the tank.
the pros are you don't have to torture a fish to cycle your tank, and that fiah may not die or become a b*tch to your other tankmates (it may develop a 'this whole tank is mine' mentality)
the cons are that you have to pay for whatever you cycle with (shrimp, ammonia food, etc)

Answer 6

pros- no dead fish, easier.
cons- you wont need that net you bought