Dr. Tim's Fishless Cycling

Chris918 · 03/30/2017, 10:43 AM

Hello all!

I am going to be using Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride solution and nitrifying bacteria to do a fishless cycle for my new reef tank. I've tried the fish food method before and it was a little slow so I figured I'd give this a go.

My question is that the instructions on the website say to remove the filter socks after dosing the bacteria to remove filter socks as well as turn off any UV, ozone, and the skimmer.

Does that mean I need to remove all of my carbon and media? I just want to be sure since I have not done this cycle before. The skimmer is already off and I have turned off my GFO reactor. I just don't want to mess up the cycle

Thanks guys!

Sk8r · 03/30/2017, 10:47 AM

GFO won't hurt: it binds phosphate, pretty useless to anything but algae; but the other items actually remove biostuffs that are important to the process of running a bacteria farm: I don't know what 'media' you mean. Reefs depend generally on their sandbed and rockwork for biological processing. Media that has to be cleaned can be a problem. You don't state the size of your tank, which is also very useful to know, as is its ultimate purpose.

Chris918 · 03/30/2017, 11:37 AM

Hey Sk8r my apologies some additional details for you.

45 gallon JBJ with sump in the back. It came with two caddy's with three compartments that have carbon, a sponge, and some kind of biological filtration media.

I wasn't even going to use them, but I figured some carbon on the tank couldn't hurt until I buy my separate carbon reactor.

Chris918 · 03/30/2017, 11:38 AM

Purpose of the tank is to be a softie tank with several reef friendly fish.

Bloodbuzz459 · 03/31/2017, 06:11 AM

I tried Dr Tims twice and it never worked for me - no idea why.

The first time I used it with dry rock (real reef) and live sand. After weeks of trying to get it the cycle kickstarted and plenty of emails between myself and their support I was told the live sand is likely the issue.

So, I set up again with dry sand and thought I'd give it another go but still after weeks nothing happened. Support was again very helpful but we didn't get anywhere.

In the end I source some established LR, put that in my tank and dropped in a bottle Biopsira and within days I was cycled and my parameters have been solid ever since.

I can't say for sure if it was the LR or biospire but might be worth a try.

homer1475 · 03/31/2017, 06:19 AM

Save a few bucks and just go to an ACE hardware store and buy their janitorial ammonia. Dump some in and wait. The bacteria are everywhere and will populate once there is a source for their food(ammonia).

I never understood the idea of adding a bottle of bacteria to quick cycle a tank. Waiting for the cycle to happen is a lesson in patience, which 99% of everyone in this hobby had to learn at some point.

Skynite · 03/31/2017, 06:30 AM

I'm cycling my dry rocks in a brute container with a Jebao PP-15 for flow. Would a 4-ounce bottle of DrTim's Aquatics one and only live nitrifying bacteria work for cycling my rocks?

Any thoughts about cycling my rocks in a brute container, good or bad? I'm awaiting delivery of my 100 gallon tank and thought I would get the jump on cycling the rock by cycling them separate from the tank.

FishN00b83 · 03/31/2017, 06:45 AM

I used it twice on a HT and I never saw ammonia on the sea Chem ammonia badge. It definitely works

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don_chuwish · 03/31/2017, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skynite

I'm cycling my dry rocks in a brute container with a Jebao PP-15 for flow. Would a 4-ounce bottle of DrTim's Aquatics one and only live nitrifying bacteria work for cycling my rocks?

Any thoughts about cycling my rocks in a brute container, good or bad? I'm awaiting delivery of my 100 gallon tank and thought I would get the jump on cycling the rock by cycling them separate from the tank.

Letting the rock mature and develop the beneficial bacteria ahead of time is great practice. Keep them in the dark to prevent any algae getting started. Feed it with something - ammonia or just food. Dr. Tims or BioSpira, either will help. Just be sure to do weekly water changes - even 100% - to export anything bad that is leaching out of the rock. Test for phosphate especially.

MondoBongo · 03/31/2017, 07:02 AM

i used it, and a load of other "instant cycle" formulas when setting up my last tank.

none of them did a thing except lighten my wallet. although i did like the ammonia dosing bottle from dr tims. that was useful, the bottle of snake oil, however, was not.

thegrun · 03/31/2017, 09:14 AM

I've used it twice to quick cycle some rock for a long term quarantine tank, it worked great both times. I had a complete cycle that then sustained fish in three days both times. I was in the let nature take her course and don't use quick cycle bacteria camp for many years, but honestly I don't see any reason not to use one of the quick cycle product available on the market now. When the quick cycle products first hit the market they were mostly useless, but the makers have come a long way in providing a good workable product. I can't speak for the reason as to why the product didn't work for some, but if I ever need to cycle a tank quickly again I wouldn't hesitate to use Dr. Tim's again.

surfingdude · 03/31/2017, 09:24 AM

bacteria in a bottle is awsome stuff...used it and never saw a bad spike....I used spiro.

Skynite · 03/31/2017, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don_chuwish

Letting the rock mature and develop the beneficial bacteria ahead of time is great practice. Keep them in the dark to prevent any algae getting started. Feed it with something - ammonia or just food. Dr. Tims or BioSpira, either will help. Just be sure to do weekly water changes - even 100% - to export anything bad that is leaching out of the rock. Test for phosphate especially.

Thanks for your suggestions, I didn't know that I should do a complete water change in my dry rock cycle. Also to check for phosphate is something I didn't realize. I was thinking that salinity, ph, alkalinity, amonia, nitrite, and nitrate were the only things I needed to worry about during my cycling. I'll be putting in an order for a phosphate hanna checker. thx

Skynite · 03/31/2017, 11:34 AM

Seachem Stability 16oz is $14
DrTim's Aquatics One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria 8oz is $34
Bio-Spira is 8oz is $14

Are they all pretty much the same? Dr Tims is quite expensive. If I have to do water changes during the cycle, do I need to dose it with one of the options above? Is 4oz enough to cycle my rocks? I have a about 50lbs of rocks for a 100 gallon tank. Picture attached.

thx

Nerayan · 05/29/2017, 03:46 PM

Hi guys, was reading your posts and I am literally about to purchase Dr tims for my M60 in an attempt to cycle. I am a proper newbie at this. Would the Dr Tims and ammonia do the trick ?? I have dry rock and dry sand in there ready to go

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Troublekitty · 05/29/2017, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerayan

Hi guys, was reading your posts and I am literally about to purchase Dr tims for my M60 in an attempt to cycle. I am a proper newbie at this. Would the Dr Tims and ammonia do the trick ?? I have dry rock and dry sand in there ready to go

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Yes it works. I'm almost done with my cycle. If you read though my thread you'll see what I went through. It wasn't hard just be patient.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2637001

Nerayan · 05/29/2017, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troublekitty

Yes it works. I'm almost done with my cycle. If you read though my thread you'll see what I went through. It wasn't hard just be patient.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2637001

Awesome I will have a read and be extra patient.

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don_chuwish · 05/29/2017, 05:57 PM

I think the truth is somewhere in between 'useless' and 'miraculous'. I think you can speed up the cycle, but it somehow didn't seem the same as when I let things naturally develop. More odd water quality issues, algae, etc. QT tanks - absolutely. Proper reef tank - if you really can't wait. But it's best to do it slow.

Nerayan · 05/29/2017, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don_chuwish

I think the truth is somewhere in between 'useless' and 'miraculous'. I think you can speed up the cycle, but it somehow didn't seem the same as when I let things naturally develop. More odd water quality issues, algae, etc. QT tanks - absolutely. Proper reef tank - if you really can't wait. But it's best to do it slow.

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Nerayan · 06/03/2017, 05:45 PM

And she's cycling. And now....we wait

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Nerayan · 06/06/2017, 03:46 PM

Question: would adding ammonium chloride speed up the cycling process??

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Nerayan · 06/06/2017, 03:47 PM

Used this to add the bacteria any thoughts??

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Lsufan · 06/06/2017, 10:59 PM

In my experiences with dr.tims & biospira is that it converts ammonia to nitrite very quickly but it still takes forever for nitrite to convert to nitrate. I believe that is why they say that they are ready for fish in a couple of days, because it converts the ammonia to nitrite quickly & nitrite isn't that toxic in saltwater unless it gets extremely high.

In my experiences it may have sped up the overall cycle but if it did it wasn't by much.

Nerayan · 06/19/2017, 01:02 PM

Is this supposed to look like this? My ammonia has spiked , nitrates high and nitrates are low. What should I expect when cycle is complete. Should I expect algae at all??

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Nerayan · 06/19/2017, 01:06 PM

Is that what is called Diatom bloom? Lol forgive my Okie knowledge peeps. Need to know what I am talking about because my 8 yr old is even more keen than I am.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

03/30/2017, 10:43 AM	#1
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Dr. Tim's Fishless Cycling Hello all! I am going to be using Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride solution and nitrifying bacteria to do a fishless cycle for my new reef tank. I've tried the fish food method before and it was a little slow so I figured I'd give this a go. My question is that the instructions on the website say to remove the filter socks after dosing the bacteria to remove filter socks as well as turn off any UV, ozone, and the skimmer. Does that mean I need to remove all of my carbon and media? I just want to be sure since I have not done this cycle before. The skimmer is already off and I have turned off my GFO reactor. I just don't want to mess up the cycle Thanks guys!

03/30/2017, 10:47 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	GFO won't hurt: it binds phosphate, pretty useless to anything but algae; but the other items actually remove biostuffs that are important to the process of running a bacteria farm: I don't know what 'media' you mean. Reefs depend generally on their sandbed and rockwork for biological processing. Media that has to be cleaned can be a problem. You don't state the size of your tank, which is also very useful to know, as is its ultimate purpose. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/31/2017, 06:19 AM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Save a few bucks and just go to an ACE hardware store and buy their janitorial ammonia. Dump some in and wait. The bacteria are everywhere and will populate once there is a source for their food(ammonia). I never understood the idea of adding a bottle of bacteria to quick cycle a tank. Waiting for the cycle to happen is a lesson in patience, which 99% of everyone in this hobby had to learn at some point. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/31/2017, 06:45 AM	#8
FishN00b83 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,140	I used it twice on a HT and I never saw ammonia on the sea Chem ammonia badge. It definitely works Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ My 125 to 180 thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2525019

03/31/2017, 07:02 AM	#10
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	i used it, and a load of other "instant cycle" formulas when setting up my last tank. none of them did a thing except lighten my wallet. although i did like the ammonia dosing bottle from dr tims. that was useful, the bottle of snake oil, however, was not. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

03/30/2017, 11:37 AM	#3
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Hey Sk8r my apologies some additional details for you. 45 gallon JBJ with sump in the back. It came with two caddy's with three compartments that have carbon, a sponge, and some kind of biological filtration media. I wasn't even going to use them, but I figured some carbon on the tank couldn't hurt until I buy my separate carbon reactor.

03/30/2017, 11:38 AM	#4
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Purpose of the tank is to be a softie tank with several reef friendly fish.

03/31/2017, 06:11 AM	#5
Bloodbuzz459 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 41	I tried Dr Tims twice and it never worked for me - no idea why. The first time I used it with dry rock (real reef) and live sand. After weeks of trying to get it the cycle kickstarted and plenty of emails between myself and their support I was told the live sand is likely the issue. So, I set up again with dry sand and thought I'd give it another go but still after weeks nothing happened. Support was again very helpful but we didn't get anywhere. In the end I source some established LR, put that in my tank and dropped in a bottle Biopsira and within days I was cycled and my parameters have been solid ever since. I can't say for sure if it was the LR or biospire but might be worth a try.

03/31/2017, 06:30 AM	#7
Skynite Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 34	I'm cycling my dry rocks in a brute container with a Jebao PP-15 for flow. Would a 4-ounce bottle of DrTim's Aquatics one and only live nitrifying bacteria work for cycling my rocks? Any thoughts about cycling my rocks in a brute container, good or bad? I'm awaiting delivery of my 100 gallon tank and thought I would get the jump on cycling the rock by cycling them separate from the tank.

03/31/2017, 09:14 AM	#11
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I've used it twice to quick cycle some rock for a long term quarantine tank, it worked great both times. I had a complete cycle that then sustained fish in three days both times. I was in the let nature take her course and don't use quick cycle bacteria camp for many years, but honestly I don't see any reason not to use one of the quick cycle product available on the market now. When the quick cycle products first hit the market they were mostly useless, but the makers have come a long way in providing a good workable product. I can't speak for the reason as to why the product didn't work for some, but if I ever need to cycle a tank quickly again I wouldn't hesitate to use Dr. Tim's again.

03/31/2017, 09:24 AM	#12
surfingdude Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Ocean City, MD Posts: 102	bacteria in a bottle is awsome stuff...used it and never saw a bad spike....I used spiro.

05/29/2017, 03:46 PM	#15
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	Hi guys, was reading your posts and I am literally about to purchase Dr tims for my M60 in an attempt to cycle. I am a proper newbie at this. Would the Dr Tims and ammonia do the trick ?? I have dry rock and dry sand in there ready to go Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

05/29/2017, 05:57 PM	#18
don_chuwish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 345	I think the truth is somewhere in between 'useless' and 'miraculous'. I think you can speed up the cycle, but it somehow didn't seem the same as when I let things naturally develop. More odd water quality issues, algae, etc. QT tanks - absolutely. Proper reef tank - if you really can't wait. But it's best to do it slow. __________________ In transition... 120G redo.

06/03/2017, 05:45 PM	#20
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	And she's cycling. And now....we wait Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

06/06/2017, 03:46 PM	#21
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	Question: would adding ammonium chloride speed up the cycling process?? Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

06/06/2017, 03:47 PM	#22
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	Used this to add the bacteria any thoughts?? Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

06/06/2017, 10:59 PM	#23
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	In my experiences with dr.tims & biospira is that it converts ammonia to nitrite very quickly but it still takes forever for nitrite to convert to nitrate. I believe that is why they say that they are ready for fish in a couple of days, because it converts the ammonia to nitrite quickly & nitrite isn't that toxic in saltwater unless it gets extremely high. In my experiences it may have sped up the overall cycle but if it did it wasn't by much.

06/19/2017, 01:02 PM	#24
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	Is this supposed to look like this? My ammonia has spiked , nitrates high and nitrates are low. What should I expect when cycle is complete. Should I expect algae at all?? Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

06/19/2017, 01:06 PM	#25
Nerayan Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 45	Is that what is called Diatom bloom? Lol forgive my Okie knowledge peeps. Need to know what I am talking about because my 8 yr old is even more keen than I am. Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk