livebearers-cycling?

[Gix]

Can guppies or platies be used for cycling, or are they more sensitive in that area?

 

[yhbae]

I did cycle using platy when I setup my very first tank as they are supposed to be one of the hardy species. Although I never lost any fishes during cycling, I'd never do fish-cycling again. I was water changing pretty much daily, and was so concerned about loosing them during cycling period!

In my opinion, you are better off doing fishless cycling - you can sleep comfortably during the night and much less need to do water changes...

 

[boozybears]

I agree completely. I also used platies and mollies for cycling (was told by my lfs that they were very hardy and could handle it). It was the day after i bought the fish that i found this forum and learned about fishless cycling. My fish mostly came through it ok... but next time i would definetly do the fishless cycling!!

good luck

Val

 

[SnowyzMom]

My vote is also in for fishless cycling. I couldn't put a fish through the other cycling, even if it was really ugly and I've seen a few that qualified. Guppies aren't as hardy as they seem, they can stress really easily, get split fins etc. I was lucky, I got alot of already aged gravel and some old water too, when my daughter moved. Do try the fishless one, it's fast and WORKS, with no weakened immune system fish afterwards.