i got my filtration system up and running tonight! i added some filter start to the filter to give the good bacteria a helping hand, only thing is i don't fully understand how to cycle the pond without any fish! what should i do now and what test results am i likely to see and finally how long does this process usually take?

sorry for all the questions

Do you have any sponges or any thing from your inside tank that you can put outside?
We changed out the sponges in our filter and tossed them in our pond, along with a thing of driftwood and some of our rocks. It basically cycled our pond almost instantly - fish were good to go in the next day.

thanks for your reply! i've been treating my tank with melafix and primafix as my comet hurt his lip recently so i'm reluctant to put any sponges from it into the pond incase there's any wee infection from his lip...i need to get him 100% healed before he goes to the pond himself!

I've just read this article online

koivet instant cycling

is adding filter start (like microbelift i think) another way of acheiving this? I added filter start and just want to know is that means my pond is cycled or not... my readings of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite are all 0 at present

i'm so confused about all this fishless cycling.

i could add sludge from my tank but i'm treating my comet for a sore lip with melafix and primafix and am concerned i could contaminate the pond even though his tank mates are unaffected!