Ok, after fiddling with the decor (I'm going for river bed, but it's not exactly right yet!), I'm ready to get that ammonia in there.

I've read all the directions on this site and collected some other directions for fishless cycling as well, read those, and I'm not ENTIRELY clear on if I should remove my Penguine cartridge filters.

Will they affect the ammonia levels in the tank? I have a hunch that the answer is no, but just want to be sure before I start.

Thanks in advance!

S~

"no".

Just what you expected. The charcoal can bind many things, but the ammonia and nitrites that you will need to get that cycle going are not ones affected.

If you were to ever NOT want the charcoal in those cartridge filters, it is a very easy thing to slit the top of the blue floss and bang the charcoal pieces out in the garbage can. Then the filter can be used without charcoal - it works well that way too. For that matter, if you ever wanted to replace them, it is easy to buy bulk charcoal and drop it into the cartridge through the slit. (THis can be very helpful when removing medications from the water and such with the charcoal. You can add it and subtract it easily)

Happy cycling!

Thanks - that's what I suspected. And, yes, I love DYI when it comes to filters and filter media

Thanks again, off to add the ammonia! I'm so excited! I'm geekin' out

S~