boy i sure wish i had come here when i was still a newbie hehe.

normally when i have new tanks, i cycle them with fancy goldfish. (oranda, fantail, ryukin ect.) they produce the most ammonia and will cycle the tank all the quicker.

then i do daily 10% change, and add ammonia binder (most common are amquel, prime, ammolock) and then salt to .1% to protect against the nitrIte spikes.

the whole process for me normally takes a month or so. its slow going with fish.
when i get my first pond set up, i am going to cycle the pond myself without fish. much easier, and will safe you all the heart ache of the fish stressing and maybe dying if you make a mistake.

*blush* thats just my two cents. hope no one minds.

I have read this article(and several others on the same subject)before and it seems a much better way of cycling a tank...much more humane...however does anyone know where a person can buy 100% pure ammonia in England ? I have not had any success in finding any
Suggestions would be appreciated

boots ask at the counter where they make the meds they may ask you to sigen something and ask you for what use

You can use the ammonium nitrAte that you buuy from Garden centers. Be warned tho, that you MUST do a 100% water change after a fishless cycle using ammonia or the fish WILL die.

Thankyou both for the replies.....I will try that

can I ask annitak why you need some if you already have tanks set up and matured or do you want to test it and see

HAve to say I found this article very interesting. I started with tropical fish with a starter kit from "pets at home" and was told nothing. The kit came with a manual which wasnt too bad but didnt really explain why. The filter that came with it was only good for a 40 litre tank but it was supplied in a 57 litre tank. I have since bought a better filter and a rubberised air stone (so now I have a curtain of air bubbles going around the back). I have a good tank with healthy fish (after losing a couple ) now I have :-

1. Siamese male fighting fish
2. Red finned shark (loves the cave)
3. 5 Neon Tetras
4. 3 Glowbright tetras
5. 6 apple snails (do a great job of cleaning all the food from the floor.
6. 3 Armoured cat fish( think thats what their called.) they sometimes get beaten to their wafers by the snails.

Seems to be a happy community and they all seem to be doing very well. Thanks to a lot of advice Ive found on this forum Im changing the neon tube for one that will help the plants and Im going to add a couple of ammonia eating plants to.

Sounds like you are doing fine any photos of your fish and tank to show us

Not yet just waiting on the arrival of some moon lighting for tank and will post a pic in both day and night cycle.

Ok