Fishless Cycling

[Egmel]

This came up on a separate thread and there seems to be a variety of opinions.

So what do people do?

(I have a vested interest in the answers as I will hopefully be stocking my new tank within the next month)

 

[Jules H-T]

Most/all mate. You're probably dosing much more ammonia than will be produced by your fish, all that will happen if you delay is the extra bacteria now not needed will die off, and will need to build up again if you add stock later.

Having said that, as you have learned from your other recent thread, bacteria will grow back pretty quickly.

You might want to leave one or two sensitive fish for a few months until your tank is mature (which is different to being cycled). Equally, if you can't get hold of a few of the fish you want, there is no need to panic.

Edit: Ooh, my 500th post. Doesn't seem like 5 minutes ago I found this site.

 

[Egmel]

cheers for the reply. I was intending to fully stock (provided I could get everything) but I stumbled upon a conv where some were saying you shouldn't and others were saying you should and I just wanted to get a feel for what people felt worked for them.

 

[Jules H-T]

I actually can't believe how many people have said "add a few hardy fish". In fact, it's the highest answer behind "I don't fishless cycle".

Adding a few hardy fish pretty much removes the point of fishless cycling in the first place. You might as well cycle with the hardy fish and build up slowly from there.

 

[Egmel]

I actually can't believe how many people have said "add a few hardy fish". In fact, it's the highest answer behind "I don't fishless cycle".

Adding a few hardy fish pretty much removes the point of fishless cycling in the first place. You might as well cycle with the hardy fish and build up slowly from there.

I'm kinda wondering about the 'I don't fishless cycle crowd" I suppose that most of them are people with multiple tanks who just clone from one to another.

As I say I started this thread because I saw there was some debate in another thread, though TBH the numbers are too low at the moment to be able to actively decide which option is most used. :geek:

 

[Egmel]

So if you voted "I don't fishless cycle" can I ask why?

 

[Cheffi]

If you actually add the top 2 votes for all and most they come to the same atm as the 'few' which is what I would have thought should be the outcome for fishless cycling. Be interesting to say how this poll progresses.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I would add everything but due to stuff like holding tanks, not knowing what exactly I want, looking for the rare fish I want, I add the easiest things to get and hardiest things straight away. But I usually clone. Or, sort of clone. If the fish are small, I put them in my 2ft with an extra filter. Set up the bigger tank, aquascape, fill with water, and generally leave the extra filter in the 2ft for a few weeks. Then I move the media to the bigger filter and the fish I want in there.

 

[madmom]

I'm cautious. I start adding a few every other week so I don't overwhelm the bacteria.

 

[Egmel]

I'm cautious. I start adding a few every other week so I don't overwhelm the bacteria.

What ppm of ammonia do you use during cycling?

 

[martin_jones]

I added pretty much everything within a week after finishing my fishless cycle.

10 cardinals, 2 clown loaches, 2 mollies and 5 amano shrimp were first.
4 blue rams went in a couple of days later
10 rummynose and 3 cories went in a few days after that
2 more clowns and 5 more cories went in a few days after that.

So I'm pretty much fully stocked now.

I checked ammonia and nitrite yesterday and they were 0 so I'm happy with that.

 

[Jules H-T]

Eqmel, remember that a majority in a poll does not mean it's the right thing.

A few hundred years ago "Flat" would have won in a poll about what shape the earth is.

You've read up on the subject, you seem intelligent- make your decision irrespective of the poll.

 

[Egmel]

Eqmel, remember that a majority in a poll does not mean it's the right thing.

A few hundred years ago "Flat" would have won in a poll about what shape the earth is.

You've read up on the subject, you seem intelligent- make your decision irrespective of the poll.

The poll result was more out of interest as to what was the majority procedure, it was people's reasons for what they did that might have swayed me. Currently I intend to stock everything from my list that I can get my hands on!