Cycling

[b.c.f.c]

just a quick question .... which starter fish do most people use? as im doing a fish cycle insted of a fishless as it just seems easyer.
o and i dont want to do it with zebera danios.

 

[jarmado]

i have used mollies.

 

[jayjay]

Minnows? When I got my first tropical tank (when i was 7) I cycled it with some swordtail fry i got from a friend.

 

[OohFeeshy]

A cycle with fish isn't easier at all, while there's been a lot of bad press with the latest 'mine is taking 7 weeks' story, generally, it will take no longer than 2 weeks and after that, you can add all your fish at once. Whereas with this method, apart from the obvious stress etc to the fish, it takes a lnog time and you can only add a few fish each week.

 

[blue acara]

im doing a fish cycle at the moment- with a pair of swordtails. im on the 19th day and the nitrites are rising at a slower rate-a good sign that the bacteria are growing. The fish have done well.

But if and when i make another tank i will do fishless- less stress on the fish

One annoying about doing a fish cycle is you have to constantly do water changes which is stressful for the fish and is annoying.

But if you are going to do a fish cycle swordtails are good

 

[saboy]

When I set up my 6x2x2, Im gonna do a fish less cycle, maybe using some fish food, if I cant find the ammonia stuff

 

[jayjay]

saboy, look in places like b&q for ammonia.

 

[b.c.f.c]

i think im going to use wcmm, if i do this do you think i will be able to put them in my grandads goldfish pond after the cycle?
im not worried about having to add fish slowly as this is what i was planning on doing anyway.
if not then i will just use 2-3 platys i think.

 

[confusion]

I used a group of zebra danios. Those things are pretty tough.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

why not just go to the LFS and see if you could have, or buy a peice of filter media from an already established tank, most come in 2 stage filtration so taknig out one wont hurt his/her fish but will instantly set up your tank. Then once your filter is in place with the established media, add your fish, (slowly though, maybe over a week or 2 bring it up to you stock) this allows time for the nitrifing bacteria to transfer and grow to be able to support a full tank!

there you have it, no 2-7 week wait for a fish, no ammonia, no loss on a fish cycle. this is what i did for all of my tanks, except i used friends , and my own tanks to cycle my others!

hope this helps!!

 

[b.c.f.c]

ive just had a thought..... i know their cold water but has any body ever used goldfish?
ive got a 28 gal tank aprox that im cycleing and you need 20 gal for a gold fish and another 10 gal for every other 1 i think ? so i should be about ok shouldnt i if i was to use them?
but can you use them or is it a big no no.

 

[jayjay]

Goldfish would produce way to much waste and probably give you loads of ammonia.

 

[b.c.f.c]

hmmm i didnt think i would be able to, but it was just a thought.

 

[confusion]

Just a note on the filter media from the LFS idea. I tried this - with 3 different LFSs. Each one looked at me like I was from a different planet. One tried to sell me 5 gallons of RO water, claiming that (perfectly clean, I might add) water would have all the "good bacteria" I needed. Another idea would be to find out if any nearby friends or co-workers are into the hobby. In my experience, you'll have more success with them than an LFS. Go for gravel or a bio-wheel before filter media.

 

[b.c.f.c]

yes thats 1 thing i was worried about the lfs looking at me like i was talking rubbish