Fish Cycling

[Nina2909]

I am a new starter to the fish world and have bought a tank. Its a 19L tank. I have read up about fishless cycling and it has put me into a massive panic. I stupidly figured it would be straight forward. I am NOT clever enough to understand the ammonia this and the other stuff and think I'll just balls it up. My husband and I are thinking of getting 1/2 hardy fish to start our fish-cycling process.
 
Any suggestions on what are hardy? I was thinking of 2/3 male guppies or 2/3 White Cloud Mountain Minnows

 

[KirkyArcher]

When I made my return to fish keeping after a long time away I was advised to get Cherry Barbs at my LFS for fish "in" cycling, now I don't know what my LFS had against Cherry barbs but I took his advice and took three home and put them in my tank, All I can say is that they are still doing well after they helped cycle my 125 litre tank
( I did for some reason expect to see a fish on a push bike when I opened this thread)

 

[daizeUK]

Hi Nina, welcome to the forums!
 
Firstly, well done on doing some research before buying fish.  This shows that you ARE clever and the fact that you are here asking for advice is a very smart move!
 
As you've probably realised by now, you have two choices.  One is to buy a bottle of ammonia and a test kit and sit back and wait a few weeks for a fishless cycle (or less, if you can get hold of some mature filter sponge).  The second option is to buy fish and a test kit and be prepared to do frequent water changes to keep your fish alive.  Your fish will be suffering the whole while and it's harder work due to the water changes.  It takes longer for the cycle to complete and you can't buy any more fish until the cycle has completed.  These are the reasons why most people on this forum will advise you to go the fishless route instead.
 
If you do choose to get some fish, be aware that your 19L tank is quite small and three guppies would fully stock it.  Cherry barbs and minnows are not suitable for a 19L tank.

 

[Nina2909]

When I made my return to fish keeping after a long time away I was advised to get Cherry Barbs at my LFS for fish "in" cycling, now I don't know what my LFS had against Cherry barbs but I took his advice and took three home and put them in my tank, All I can say is that they are still doing well after they helped cycle my 125 litre tank
( I did for some reason expect to see a fish on a push bike when I opened this thread)

 
Haha! Defo a newbie mistake in the terminology there then! Cherry barbs look quite stunning but I have just found Endlers Live Bearers and I am drooling.... Are they as hardly as I have read?

 

[fluttermoth]

Fishless cycling is really not hard to do, and there are loads of people here who would talk you through each stage.
 
All fish, even hardy ones, can suffer or die during a fish-in cycle, and in a tank as small as yours (which is not suitable for WCMM) you would struggle to keep the levels of ammonia/nitrite low enough not to cause any harm.

 

[Ch4rlie]

 to the forum
 
First of all, do not panic about the Fishless Cycle, I had to read it quite a few times before I even started to understand it and belive me, I sure am not a scientist at all! 

 
I really would recommend you stay with the fishless cycle process, really is much better and easier than doing a fish in cycle.
Several reasons for this,
 
1 - Fish in cycle requires a LOT of water changes
2-  Can be harmful and stressful for the fishes, fairly likely you may lose some fish this way.
3 - Takes a lot longer, usually several months for fish in cycle compared to 4 to 8 weeks for fishless cycles.
4 - Any mistakes made will probably result in the death of fishes.
 
Doing a fishless cycle also has the benefit of being able to fully stock your tank in one go once completed rather than gradual stocking when doing fish in cycles.
 
You WILL get the hang of doing fishless cycles, even pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates will soon be the norm for you and become routine testings. 
 
For a beginner I know it is a lot to take in but if you do things step by step, things will become clearer and easier as you along the fishless cycle. Like you, I was bamboozled and never thought would get the hang of this, I can do this, you most certainly can.
 
Once you get started, just ask questions on this forum and we will help guide and advise you on whats the next step, thats what we like to do. 
Really is easier than you think and reading the Fishless Cycle article will help. Its definitely worth it. 

 

[Nina2909]

I think I would rather just do fish-in cycling. I dont mind changing water etc but I dont get science at all.
 
Advice appreciated on what fish to start with please

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, if you're utterly determined to fish-in cycle (I have to say, I'm slightly disappointed you won't consider a fishless cycle; it's really not hard science at all), then you will need;
 
as many live plants in your tank as possible; these will absorb some of the ammonia and nitrite and help stop them building up so much
 
test kits for both ammonia and nitrite (you don't need to worry about pH or nitrate to start with; although if you can use test kits, you could do a fishless cycle...)
 
water conditioner
 
I would go for two or three male Endler's; they're about the only fish, suitable for your sized tank, that you could even think of cycling with.

 

[Fishmanic]

I know you're anxious to get fish as quick as possible.  I felt the same way.  But luckily I found this forum and the very detailed fishless cycle procedure and thought I'd give it a try.   You have to buy cleanser free pure ammonia or diluted ammonia solution.  If you shake the bottle and it has lots of foam, it is not the correct type to use.  Luckily I had some in the house that was pure.
 
The fishless cycle may take about a month but the wait is well worth it.  I fully stocked my 35 gallon hex tank with 9 healthy fish and they were quite content in their new ammonia free fully cycled home.   Fishless cycling does not require any water changes till the very end of the procedure at which time you do a 90% water change.

 

[b3cca]

You should read up on ammonia poisoning and brown blood disease to see excactly what fish in cycling is going to put those fish through.
Better still google some pictures of some poor fish with ammonia burns, it's absolutely horrible.
 
Just use the calculator at the top to see how much botled ammonia to dose you water volume to around 3 ppm, test your water paremeters daily and then top up the ammonia as and when needed.  That is basically all there is to fishless cycling, not hard in the slightest.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Let me put it this way, fish in cycle requires the exact same testings and knowledge as it requires for fish less cycling, in fact you might actually need more knowledge and understanding of the process of fish in cycles compared to fish less cycle.

Fish in cycle really is a lot more work even though you said you don't mind water changes, this is every day, with your tank size at 19 litres, probably twice a day to keep ammonia (which is toxic to fish) levels down to an 'acceptable' level for the fish to survive as well as monitoring nitrite levels (also toxic to fish) to a 'acceptable' level as well.

Also you will need to test water every day, whereas fish less cycle only need to test every 2 or 3 days until the last few days.

If you really are determined to do things this way then certainly cannot stop you, just to make sure you are aware it's a fair amount of work and stress. (stress for both you and the fish!)

As long as you are prepared for this then I'll wish you the very best of luck

 

[daizeUK]

Considering that your maximum stocking is 3 guppies, I would start with just one for a fish-in cycle.  He may be lonely but two guppies would produce more ammonia and suffer more.
 
Endlers are also an option and you could eventually stock up to 7 or 8 male endlers.  Start with 2 or 3 for cycling.
 
A single betta is another option.  There's nothing else I would recommend for your tank.

 

[Francesjane]

Go for the Fishless cycle...please...I have learnt the hard way and have had fish who are NOT happy....it's so not fair to them...just because they are tiny and put into water that we think LOOKS ok is just so far from the truth. You could always try and sit In a small room with windows shut tight and with some neat ammonia filling the air and feel what it's like to have that to breath. Not nice.