Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am totally new but have been researching for a very long time. I am interested in aquaponics and have finally got my DH and DS interested too.

I've had exactly 1 tetra for 3 years prior to this and have no idea how I managed not to kill him for the entire 3 years. I never knew anything about cycling a tank.

My DH on the other hand had tons of family tanks when he was at home many moons ago but for some reasons he says they got goldfish that ended up cannibalizing each other until they all died (guess their tanks never fully cycled).

I have a small test 5 gallon tank that we are trying to cycle. We've filled it with water from a rain barrel that we have had sitting out side. I've been going to the local Petsmart to test the water to supplement my own master test kit but it seems like they keep telling me its OK to put the fish in the tank now but my Nitrites & Nitrates are both 0 and Ammonia was previously 0 but is now creeping up to 0.25. i am tempted to buy ammonia locally but I know the ones in my supermarket has surfactants in them. Currently, the tank is at 80 degrees which, by my research should promote beneficial bacteria as soon as it cycles.

Welcome to the forum.

There are lots of other sources of ammonia for fishless cycling. For example, a little fish food added to the water will break down over time and produce ammonia.

Welcome to the forum.

There are lots of other sources of ammonia for fishless cycling. For example, a little fish food added to the water will break down over time and produce ammonia.