Fishless Cycle?

[madpad]

Can this be done without established media? Is this wise?

[kitten]

you can bye cycle in bottles, but i think that is the biggest load of cr@p i've ever been scammed into. Otherwise you just run it in for a month or so before you add fish.

What do you mean by 'established media'? I really like the fishless cycle. I had to add cycle bacteria into my tank on Saturday because I was not getting any NO2 reading. Yesterday I did get a slight increase above 0 but less than 0.25 NO2 reading. Cycle has its place but you first need high readings of NH before putting it in. Otherwise it doesnt have any nutrients.

[arcab4]

established media is when u take media from another cycled tank and put it into ur uncycled tank.

[Bettaman shane]

i have done this many times on it has always worked ;D

[kitten]

it's the only way to go

[sharkbait]

It can be done without adding established media but it will take longer.  To get through your cycle as quickly as possible, you really should introduce some sort of media that has all the necessary nitrifying bacteria already thriving.  This can be gravel, plants--live or plastic, filter media from an established aquarium or sqeezings from the filter.  
When I fishless cycle, I'll run the filter on an established aquarium for a month or so before I start the fishless cycle.  Usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
If you don't have access to any media, ask your lfs for some.  They should be happy to provide you with something.  
BTW......just water doesn't work.  It has to be something with a surface that the bacteria can grow on.

[Bettaman shane]

or you could pee in your water LOL ;D

[kitten]

pee?

[Bettaman shane]

oops i changed it :