Originally Posted by Fishie-Fingers

Hi all,
I have just set up my 200litre tank,(filled on monday 28th april) I`m cycling it at the moment, but would like some advice and some handy hints and tips!

Congrats for cycling it, many peeps just rush in and throw fish in, resulting in undue stress for both fish and fish-keeper (most of the time)

Its not my first time at fish keeping, but really want to do things uber properly this time, I am now living somewhere where i intend not to move from for a long while! I must admit to bein a bit of a neat freak, so like things just so, but would like to know the limitations, some algae growth I guess is a good sign!

At present the tank is filtered with a Fluval 205, lower basket is carbon bag and polywool, mid level is ammonia remover 2 bags, top basket biomax.
Is this the correct placement?

You can junk the carbon, you will be hard pressed to find many experienced fish keepers that use it or rate it. It takes up space in the filter that is better served with other types of media. To cut a long story short, it's best for when you want to remove medications or other potentially hazardous chemicals, but not as a routine media. If you do use it, you will need to replenish it quicker than you probably are aware of, and its also a bit of a bummer as it can leach toxins back into the tank once it becomes saturated.

I am not sure about using "ammonia removers" as a media if you are attempting to cycle your filter/tank. They will be robbing the biological media of ammonia (food) or basically some of the ammonia (food) at least. The bacteria that need to establish themselves, need the ammonia to get started and also ammonia as an on-going food source. I still think you could cycle the tank with the ammonia removers in, as i am very doubtful they remove all the ammonia at such a great speed that the other media doesn't get any ammonia (does that make sense?)

the water is beautifully clear, the readings are still high, obviously, but my understanding of the nitrogen cycle is the "good bacteria" require ammonia to get started, my question is, if the tank is fishless, how will the bacteria get to sufficient safe levels without fish waste etc to feed on? If I just leave well alone, will the cycle happen naturally?

It wont happen without an ammonia source (this is usually provided by either or a combination of fish, fish food or pure ammonia from a chemist). I dont advice cycling with fish. Using something like a few prawns is better in my opinion and you can learn how to manipulate ammonia and nitrite readings in order to cycle your tank (filter) correctly, then introduce some fish into a much more stable and better water quality environmentI have treated the initial filling of water with aqua safe, and added cycle to help things along so far.

I dont rate products like "cycle", sorry to be a bit of a cynic, it might be helping, i just wouldn't count on it (from experience and reading about a lot)
Any tips will be gratefully receive xxxx