Is it Ok to cycle a tank with .....

[haddock]

Hi,
Well my 40g tank arrives tonight so I'm now thinking of which fish to use to cycle it.
I know danios are probably the best but I wasn't planning to have them in my tank.

Do you think that harlequin rasbosas are hardy enough to handy being in a cycling tank?

The other fish I want to get eventually include, cardinal tetras, penguin tetras, cory cats and maybe hatchets. Would any of these be a better choice for first fish?

Also how many fish should I add at first.

Thanks

 

[Macracantha]

I think the harlequins would be the best choice of your intended stock....I wouldn't put more than six in first go tho!!!

 

[abstract]

i've heard harlequins can be just as touchy about water parameters as neons...but i donno

 

[WILDER]

Please don't add the harlequins you will lose them, they are not a hardy fish and very sensetive to water quality, dosn't take much to kill them in nitrites, even a slight raise can fiinish them off, you want to think of maybe a few platys as they are a hardy fish.

 

[abstract]

or even feeder guppies (but they WILL produce little ones - could be a good thing or a bad thing - depends on future stocking ) or danios ....even if you return them after!

 

[LoachLover]

Danios are probably the best choice, and if you don't want to keep them I'm sure you could find somebody to take them off your hands.

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you feel you don't really want any of the common cycling fishes (danios, platies), there is always the option of the fishless cycle (see threads above).

I'm doing that because I felt it would give me more freedom in stocking (and be nicer to the fish).

 

[WILDER]

http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php