Fish Cycle

[tom16]

Is it possible to be the fish in quicker than doing the fishless cycle but without harming them?

 

[Truck]

both cycles take the same amount of time, however if you use mature media it speeds it up. ive always done fish in. it doesnt harm fish if done properly.

 

[tom16]

Is there a good thread explaining this?

Thanks Truck

 

[Truck]

yes in the 'new to hobby' forum

 

[tom16]

Just read it really helped

 

[backtotropical]

ive always done fish in. it doesnt harm fish if done properly.

Wrong!

Maybe you should do a bit more research, Truck. Maybe then you would find that exposure to even small concentrations of ammonia can negatively affect the long-term health of the fish.

Fish-In or fishless is a choice each individual has to make for themselves, hopefully based on the facts about each. It's not really fair to be giving people incorrect information, especially when it may end up harming their fish.

BTT

 

[Truck]

ive always done fish in. it doesnt harm fish if done properly.

Wrong! Maybe you should do a bit more research, Truck. Maybe then you would find that exposure to even small concentrations of ammonia can negatively affect the long-term health of the fish.

It's not really fair to be giving people incorrect information.

so your saying ammonia is never present in a tank?

when it is? that explains algae, and it takes time from ammonia excreted from the gills and feces to get to the filter, fish are always subject to ammonia in a tank, thats why in a planted tank we try to get good turn over to make this process quicker, to prevent algae

 

[backtotropical]

Agreed ammonia is always present in a tank, but in a tank with a properly functioning biological filter, the concentration of ammonia at any given time is so little, it can virtually be regarded as none. This can be proven by a simple ammonia test with an aquarium test kit. The result will be 0 because the amount is so little, it is undetectable.

This is very difficult if not impossible to replicate whilst performing a fish-in cycle. The ammonia levels are invariably higher, and certainly detectable with a proprietary aquarium test kit.

The two scenarios are obviously quite different in respect of the ammonia concentrations involved, and I don't see how your example in any way suggests that the ammonia levels during a fish-in cycle don't harm the fish. It only suggests that the ammonia levels in a fully cycled tank don't hurt the fish, which is quite different.

 

[Truck]

i have kept my ammonia level at 0 whilst doing a fish in cycle by doing 2 50% water changes every 12 hours starting at 25% of my total stocking allowance, as i said, in my previous post if done properly a fish in cycle poses no more danger to fish than the ammonia levels that are in a fully cycled, tank aslong as that reading stays at 0 on the hobby test kit, all should be well. i have achieved this so i speak purely from experience.

 

[backtotropical]

Ok, so whilst I'm willing to believe that it may be possible by having the tank only 25% stocked and performing 4 x 50% water changes every day, I'm not so sure that it was obvious that was what you meant.

In reality, most people wouldn't have the time to perform 4 water changes per day, nor would they want to, especially on large tanks. Most people I speak to on here who do a fish-in cycle do 1 or maybe 2 changes every day.

It wasn't obvious to me that when you said "if done properly" you were referring to a regime of water changes which most people wouldn't have the time or inclination to carry out. If it should have been, I apoligise.

Now that I understand your point, and I accept that maybe it would be possible if you have a lot of free time, that raises the question of why you would want to go to so much trouble when you could do a fishless cycle instead, and also why you would recommend the labour intensive method to others? Just out of interest?

Tom, sorry for straying slightly from your original topic.

 

[Truck]

i have no choice but to do fish-in cycling because my mother doesnt like me having ammonia in the house as i have a younger brother who could end up seriously causing damage if he got his hands on it, i would only recommend to those who have spare time so i should have been clearer, but given the time and effort it can be done, although fishless cycling is less labour intensive.

 

[tom16]

Yh i will doing the fish in cycle because i have 3 small dogs and i would rather they didnt get hold of it.

 

[Truck]

just make sure you have the time to dedicate to the cycle

 

[tom16]

Can i just make sure i understand it fully.

You wait at least 7 days to let the tank settle then you can start to add fish.

When do you start water changes and how many?

When do you start to test the water?

 

[Truck]

add the fish after about a day to check equipment works

you do a water change when there is a trace of ammonia in the tank that is readable on the test kit. which can be up to 4 times a day

you test 6 hours after adding fish and every 6 hours from then.