Cycling With A Bgk?

[Anthony!]

Will soon cycle a 90. gal, no fish or live plants in it currently, will a BGK be able to survive cycling? I have one on order in an LFS (will arrive WEDNESDAY, pick up THURSDAY, MUCH earlier than I thought!!) If you need water params, I only have an ammonia test kit for now, sorry! thanks for the replies!!! if it can last cycling, what else can I put with it to cycle? I know BGK's don't produce a lot of fish waste.

 

[wheelyfeet]

Will soon cycle a 90. gal, no fish or live plants in it currently, will a BGK be able to survive cycling? I have one on order in an LFS (will arrive WEDNESDAY, pick up THURSDAY, MUCH earlier than I thought!!) If you need water params, I only have an ammonia test kit for now, sorry! thanks for the replies!!! if it can last cycling, what else can I put with it to cycle? I know BGK's don't produce a lot of fish waste.

I don't know what a BGK is, but cycling with fish is always hard on them. Food and respiration also produce ammonia.

Does your LFS carry Biospira?

I have used Biospira with excellent results in three tanks now, one 75 gallon freshwater, one 90 gallon salt, and one 29 gallon salt. Ammonia and nitrites WILL become detectable with the use of Biospira, but will stay fairly low and will quickly go back down. Biospira must be kept refridgerated until use and should be added near the same time as the fish are added so that it has ammonia to begin to work on. You cannot use any ammonia binding products with biospira, which some water conditioners contain. The downside is that it is pricey.

The other option is to control your nitrogens with water changes during the cycling phase. I do water changes as often and in large enough quantity to achieve the readings I like, ammonia under .25, nitrites under .50. It will take a bit longer for the cycle to complete, but your fish will thank you. On the tanks I've cycled normally, I aim for I've never lost a fish doing this. If you have an established tank that you can steal some gravel and some filter media from, you can speed up your cycling time. You will need a test kit that tests for ammonia AND nitrites as they are both toxic. Nitrate tests are inaccurate while you have nitrites.

 

[Die_Grinder]

i dont think a BLACK GHOST KNIFE will survive the cycle, they are quite hardy but high ammonia will get to them fast. when i got mine it was in the bag for about 20 mins and it was ..... lets say unresponsive, so i released him and in about 5 secs he was off to find a hiding spot. so if the amount of ammonia he can produce in 20mins can get to him, its not very likley that he will survive the cycle.

ask your LFS to sell him on (or save him for a few weeks) and then just order another one in. Not fair on the fish.

DG

 

[Nina]

BGK are sensitive fish. The chances of him surviving a cycle are pretty slim especially if he is small.

We put smaller ones in an established tank and for no apparent reason they didn't survive so an uncycled tank is not probably not a good idea.

I would either ask the LFS to sell him on or hold him for you.

 

[guppy_man]

maybe a pleco, would that be ok to cycle with?

 

[FBF]

i wouldnt even consider using any scaleless fish to cycle with. also they are harder to treat if sick. knife fish are quite delicate and do really need good water conditions. hence why they are not an ideal begginers fish

 

[Nina]

Personally I would do a fishless cycle and not use any fish to cycle with at all.

yes it means you have to wait a little longer to actually get fish into the tank but in my opinion it is much kinder.

If you search on the forum then you will find a lot of info on fishless cycling and how to do it. THe other alternative is cloning if you already have an establish tank.

This is much quicker and you can add fish straight away.

 

[Anthony!]

well, I did get it thursday, but after several small goldfish were in there or awhile, along with filter media and tank gravel from another (well established, almost 1 year old tank). He's doing great it looks like. at least he eats healthy (where are my guppies Dang! I bought 12!) So I believe he'll fair alright. Ran a couple of water tests just a half an hour ago. am - 0 NI - 0 ph is good. so I'm happy