I Have Read About Cycles

[menacer]

Hi i got my tank back from P@H, the guy that sold me the tank told me to add the gravel, filter, plants, heater and any decor leave it for 3 days and then i can add 4 fish.

After reading about cycling am i right or wrong in thinking that this guy does not know what he is talking about?

 

[Katty]

You are partially correct; either he plain doesn't know, OR being a store employee, doesn't have time to explain and has to make a sale above all else. You could see how a customer might just walk out of the store and not buy anything if the cashier went on for half an hour explaining cycling.

BUT, good job on looking up cycling! That puts you on a good start already. If you need more info about cycling check the resource center here, it's very good. And feel free to ask the forum anything that comes up.

 

[killudead]

cycling a tank is not that hard.
He said to add the 4 fish to start the process without noting that they should be a certain type of hardy fish.
but here in lies the problem, 4 fish = 4 times the amount of waste. While this is good to start the process it will require more frequent water changes. It really depends on the size of the tank. 1 fish in a 75 gallon is a start but not by much. 4 might be more adequate.
You dont have to do fishless cycles, but it requires more water changes in the end. You must monitor the levels more. If you can get some media that is from an tank that has already been cycled, it will jump start your tank.

 

[lilfishie]

do you know anyone that also has a tank? if you do you could ask for some of there filter media (a store might even give some too) to kick start your cycle

 

[menacer]

Ok well my tank is 48 litre, if i was to do a 1 hardy fish in cycle to get it going. what would you recommend? need to get a water testing kit as well now wow this is more exciting than i first thought

You are partially correct; either he plain doesn't know, OR being a store employee, doesn't have time to explain and has to make a sale above all else. You could see how a customer might just walk out of the store and not buy anything if the cashier went on for half an hour explaining cycling.

BUT, good job on looking up cycling! That puts you on a good start already. If you need more info about cycling check the resource center here, it's very good. And feel free to ask the forum anything that comes up.

They could give a free leaflet with every tank buyer

 

[menacer]

I have a 48 litre tank, what would you recommend as a good hardy fish for fish in cycle?

Thanks Adam

 

[Harlequins]

I personally wouldn't subject any fish to a fish in cycle,but thats my choice.

Fish in cycle is a lot harder than fishless,not to mention the poor fish suffering from ammonia/nitrite poisoning like your first batch did.

 

[Rogue4Fish]

I have a 48 litre tank, what would you recommend as a good hardy fish for fish in cycle?

Thanks Adam

Most people recommend Zebra Danio's if you're going to do it that way.

I did mine with Rummynose Tetra's...I didn't find fish-in cycling a problem. Just water changes everyday/every other day. If you don't mind that, it's not as bad as you might think.

 

[Lolly123]

I think its a very good thing that you've done your own research, as I always say to people starting out, you need to stock up on info and read as much as you can otherwise these stores will take you for a ride. So thumbs up for finding it out on your own.

With a fish in cycle as others have said, it's a bit more taxing due to the water changing, but i guess with a 48 litre its not going to be too hard. Personally, I wouldn't recommend fish-in, purely for the livestocks sake. However, its up to you how you do it. But with a bottle of ammonia as easy to pick up as a few danios, its just a preference as to how you want to start out.

 

[guppi]

I would suggest you do the fishless cycle, Im currently doing one with a 106 ltr tank but also have a biorb going through a fish cycle its a real pain changing the water every day to keep fish from suffering or dieing,and thats on a small 30 ltr one.

 

[creg]

i added 6 glowlight tetra to my 95 litre tank to cycle it, havent lost a single one and they are looking happy and healthy. (waited 2 weeks between adding more)

dont be pressured into thinking a fishless cycle is the only way to get your tank up and running

edit: i also only did a 25%ish water change twice a week

 

[rich]

Perhaps 2 white cloud minnows in such a small tank and keep changing 30% water.

 

[Newbie_87]

dont be pressured into thinking a fishless cycle is the only way to get your tank up and running

+1 I to am currently doing a fish in cycling, as long as your willing to put the effort in with testing twice daily and doing the required water changes you shouldn't have any problem. Just take your time with stocking, adding a few fish every week or so once ammonia and nitrite stay at 0ppm.