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L# Freshwater Aquaria
 L# General Freshwater
  L# Seeding?
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SubscribeSeeding?
Fishguy101
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male usa
I am going to start cycling my 20g using ammonia. I was wondering how do you seed? When i buy more tanks i want to seed them using the 20g is thats possible.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:57Profile Homepage AIM PM Edit Report 
greenmonkey51
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male usa
to seed you just use filter media from another established tank. or some gravel.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:57Profile PM Edit Report 
Bignose
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male usa
If you are feeling patient, you really don't even need to seed. The bacteria you will be growing are everywhere, just in very small qunatities. The first ones will grow and eat your ammonia, and then when nitrites are around, those will grow and eat those, too. But most of us are of an impatient lot (Calilasseia argues against impatience in a recent thread), and if you start with a larger quantity from someone's established tank in the form of gravel or decoration or (idealy) filter media, the number of bacteria much more quickly grows to a sufficient number.

There are also several products you can buy in your LFS that claim to kick-start or even instantly cycle your tank. I would be exceptionally skeptical.

I would find a friend and borrow some of their gravel, or you should be able to get some gravel or old filter media from your LFS. The only trick that I am sure will help reduce the cycling time is to turn your heater to like 85-88 degrees F. Since you have no fish in there, you aren't hurting any fish, and the bacteria grow significantly quicker at warmer temperatures. Just be sure to turn the heater down well before adding fish -- like 1-2 days before.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:57Profile PM Edit Report 
greenmonkey51
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male usa
if you have no fish in there. there is no ammonia and the bacteria cant get started. you can do fishless cycle where you add pure ammonia. also a good bacteria starter is bio-spiria and cycle. but bio-spiria isn't availible right now
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:57Profile PM Edit Report 
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