Off Topic- Fish Question

[notscaredtodance]

So I'm starting up a 29 gallon tank and I've got some gravel from an established tank. I plan on doing a fishless cycle, and I was going to get the whole thing rolling tonight, but I realized the ammonia which I was sure was pure ammonia, has soap in it, so I can't use it . Will the bacteria cultures on the gravel last until tomorrow around 4? I have it in a fishbag of water with oxygen in the bag. And I got it out of a cichlid tank, which usually has high ammonia.

[Nathaniel]

I always use fishless, but if you have waste water from a recent cleaning of an established tank (or your cichlid tank), add a little water every day for a week or two. Plus if you have an aged biofilter, take that and plant it in your new filter for the week and put the new biofilter in the aged filter, if you do this the old biofilter will spread the good bacteria around while the new filter is able to develope in a stable enviorment. Good luck. If you have any more questions just ask.

[notscaredtodance]

Well if you dont mind me asking questions :]

Are you saying to add the old water for the ammonia it has? Since bacteria are on hard surfaces, not in water. That's what adding the pure ammonia was for.

What kind of filter do you use? Is there one that's been recommended as better? I've got an AquaClear 50, which is for 30-50 gallon tanks. I would have actually gone with a bigger one but I plan on getting severum cichlids, which like calmer waters.

Is one kind of food better than another?

What fish forum do you use, if you use one? I registered on fishforums.net but it wont even let me post and it's been two days.

There's 25% off all fish sale at my store until the 31st so I'm really trying to get it cycled as fast as possible. So extra tips would be awesome. Besides adding an old filter, which I'll be doing, borrowing one from a friend, and going fishless.

[Nathaniel]

Are you saying to add the old water for the ammonia it has? Since bacteria are on hard surfaces, not in water. That's what adding the pure ammonia was for.

No, waste water. As in the stuff you get after vacuming the substrate. This loosens up alot of decaying detritus and bacteria into the water and adding a cup or two everyday introduces the bacteria as well as ammonia.

What kind of filter do you use? Is there one that's been recommended as better? I've got an AquaClear 50, which is for 30-50 gallon tanks. I would have actually gone with a bigger one but I plan on getting severum cichlids, which like calmer waters.

I use only canister and industrial filters so I can't help you there, although I know that TOP FIN makes filters with ajustable rates of gph. I also know that you can find these at Petsmart.

Is one kind of food better than another?

Preferably one with a high protein content that can get sunk to the bottom.

-I don't use the internet for fish, because alot of the people on the forums have been misguided by one false claim and they end up screwing with the rest of us.