Cycle With Gold Fish?

[coalpoolwalla]

i am new to tropical fish keeping.... well any fish for that matter.

i went to my my local pet shop today because im looking to get a new filter before i start anythink as the one i got with my set up does not work (second hand set up).

after having a good old chat to him... he mentioned.

"forget all that fishless cycle stuff... buy a few gold fish.... put em in ya tank.... leave heater off but filter on and leave it for 3 weeks.... take goldfish out and add ya trpoical and put heater on.
he rekons this would add ammonia to the water the same way as a fishless cycle.


is this true?

 

[Jpmc™]

This is not true, the only way to cycle is with your ammonia and nitrites and those fun chemicals.
Don't listen to that junk. Do it the real way.

 

[RadaR]

Of course it's true. Everything he said is correct however not ethical. Even though it's a goldfish, it is still cruel to put any fish through cycling because they are bound to come into contact with detectable levels of ammonia and nitrite that will burn the fish as well as preventing oxygen from circulating around the fishes body. Not a pleasant thing to go through at all. The life span of the fish will be significantly shortened.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi coalpoolwalla

Well, yes, this is what is known as cycling with fish. In the end, the beneficial bacteria that results will be the same whatever fish you use, or even if you just add ammonia.

What he didn't tell you is that it's a little more trouble than that. Unless you plan to sacrifice the goldfish in the end, it takes many and frequent water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite down to harmless levels. Then, what are you going to do with the goldfish once the tank is cycled?

 

[coalpoolwalla]

so this would work... because i was like " dont talk bllocks" lol escuse my language

he said if i wanted to try it (beacuse i didnt beleave him) he would GIVE me 3 goldfish to do it with.

and my niece has a goldfish tank so id give them her afterwards lol

 

[RadaR]

Look, it's cruel to do it with fish.

 

[Sarah5098]

Look, it's cruel to do it with fish.

Im in full agreement, how would you feel being put in a tank of acid and suffocated by harmful chemicals? It will kill the fish.

 

[coalpoolwalla]

fair comment.... but a goldfish..... come on.
they are not excactly an endangered species are they. and for what they cost.

fair enough if you do not not recomend this but what about fish in cycle as posted in the beginers resource.... do you not all think this is cruel.

and as soon as i can find some ammonia in my local shops i will get some but if i cant .... im sorry but i think i will have to resort to the goldfish

 

[RadaR]

fair comment.... but a goldfish..... come on.

I hear this all too often at the LFS.
What makes a Goldfish different from any other fish? It still has gills and still experiences the "pain" and distress. Your being told this yet you say you might "resort" to doing it. That escapes logic.
As for cycling with fish in the beginners section, it's just mentioning that method, yet as you can see, this used to be done before ammonia was sold. We now know it's not nice for the fish at all an causes them harm. You want to be a fishkeeper yes? Then how on earth can you harm a fish in the process with the knowledge that it will batter the fish's health.

 

[Sarah5098]

fair comment.... but a goldfish..... come on.
they are not excactly an endangered species are they. and for what they cost.

fair enough if you do not not recomend this but what about fish in cycle as posted in the beginers resource.... do you not all think this is cruel.

and as soon as i can find some ammonia in my local shops i will get some but if i cant .... im sorry but i think i will have to resort to the goldfish

Ammonia is readily available from all homebase stores. Fish in cycles involve massive owner dedication to keep levels below 0.25 at all times, often twice daily water changes and testing are necessary. And fish in cycles are all not recomended.

You are considering getting goldfish to torture them and then throw them away, do you really find this ethical?

 

[coalpoolwalla]

very very very good comment.... about fishkeeper "yes" so indeed i will not harm a fish.

just got my head around it all so i will not be purchasing the gold fish.

but another thing... when you keep a goldfish just in a goldfish bowl, doesnt that harm the fish as it has not been cycled?

only a question.

i will go to all my local shops tommorow and get me some ammonia and a testing kit

 

[Sarah5098]

very very very good comment.... about fishkeeper "yes" so indeed i will not harm a fish.

just got my head around it all so i will not be purchasing the gold fish.

but another thing... when you keep a goldfish just in a goldfish bowl, doesnt that harm the fish as it has not been cycled?

only a question.

i will go to all my local shops tommorow and get me some ammonia and a testing kit

Haha yes it does, just mention goldfish bowls on here and everyone goes crazy...

 

[coalpoolwalla]

haha ooops shouldnt have put that then lol

 

[Inchworm]

Done properly, a fish in cycle is not cruel. The idea is to do enough regular water changes to control the amount of ammonia and nitrites that build up during the process of growing your bacteria. A long slow cycle is not harmful to the fish. Getting impatient and forgetting to do water changes is.

Up until the last five years or so, tanks were always cycled with fish. Then, someone invented the fishless method. Personally, I've never used it, and doubt very much if I ever would.

fair comment.... but a goldfish..... come on.
they are not exactly an endangered species are they. and for what they cost.

If you buy a fish, you are certainly entitled to do whatever you want to with it. Personally, I wouldn't consider cost to be the same thing as value. Many breeders routinely cull their excess stock, and that's not considered cruel. I will caution you that if you are just talking about this to get a reaction from some of the more sensitive members, it is not the thing to do.

If you do have access to an established tank, be it goldfish or tropical, it's entirely possible that you can start up a new tank by "cloning" it from the older one.

 

[coalpoolwalla]

certanly not trying to get a reaction... i was just asking. and i am new to all this so didnt know what sort of reaction i would get.... i am very sorry if ive affended anyone in saying what i did.... but im only here for help and advise and thats what i hope i get.