[bliv]

Hi,

I've had my tank running for about three days. I introduced some live plants yesterday and added some Sera Bio Nitrivec (a liquid bilogical filter medium) to help speed up the cycle process.

I was just wondering if I can use old fish food as an ammonia source? I have some that is best before 2010. No idea if I can use that or not?

Thanks

 

[Hallyx]

Rotting of old fishfood will generate ammonia, but it creates quite a smell. Not as bad as rotting shrimp or fish, but still... And it's hard to accurately control the dose. Using "pure" ammonia (that does not foam when shaken) is the preferred method.

Sera Bio Nitrivec does not contain live nitrifying bacteria. It does contain an assortment of minerals which help feed the bacteria and clear out sludge and help establish the biofilm where the nitrifying bacteria live .... but you still need to get that bacteria in there. You can wait until it falls out of the sky (it's everywhere in the atmosphere), or you can buy a live-bacteria product that contains Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira (or Nitrobacter). There a re a variety of these products of which Tetra Safestart is the most common in the States and, I belive in the UK.

With these products you don't need fishfood nor ammonia. You can and should stock immediately.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[nolfan]

i'd just put in a bunch of fast growing live plants and stock accordingly with hardy fish (not too delicate). filter bacteria will form over time.

 

[bliv]

Rotting of old fishfood will generate ammonia, but it creates quite a smell. Not as bad as rotting shrimp or fish, but still... And it's hard to accurately control the dose. Using "pure" ammonia (that does not foam when shaken) is the preferred method.

Sera Bio Nitrivec does not contain live nitrifying bacteria. It does contain an assortment of minerals which help feed the bacteria and clear out sludge and help establish the biofilm where the nitrifying bacteria live .... but you still need to get that bacteria in there. You can wait until it falls out of the sky (it's everywhere in the atmosphere), or you can buy a live-bacteria product that contains Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira (or Nitrobacter). There a re a variety of these products of which Tetra Safestart is the most common in the States and, I belive in the UK.

With these products you don't need fishfood nor ammonia. You can and should stock immediately.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks a lot for the help!