Using Fish To Cycle

[vancouver]

Today I did a 100% cleaning of my 75g tank.. everything was cleaned with warm water. filters, gravel, glass, ornaments. I treated the water with aquaplus, and seeded the filter with bacteria from other tanks. I'm just trying to choose fish to help the cycle along..

I already have 2 convicts and 4 silver dollars (in other tanks)

Zebra danios are on sale, as are serpae tetra ..so I could get 15 of either for $10

Sooo... 2 convicts? 15 zebra danios? 15 serpae tetra? 4 silver dollars? what would you do?

I'm leaning towards the convicts just because I already have them.. but I wouldn't mind some serpaes or zebra danios to school around the tank anyways... Ideas?

Thanks

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

get the zebras they are really hardy and look great

 

[Anthony!]

IME, I've found that Silver Dollars are incredibly hardy.... a good while back, when I was *more* of an idiot in fish keeping, I hadn't changed the water in MONTHS. The ammonia was well over 6ppm, Lord knows how bad everything else was. That was nearly a year ago, and I am staring at one of the survivors right now
So, I'd say you could probably cycle the tank with the 4 dollars. Then again, I'm just *less* of an idiot as I was a year ago

 

[vancouver]

hmm another dilemna.. I think the silver dollars might be good.. cant get to the lfs till tomorrow, but don't want to just chuck the silver dollars in now, and have them die overnight.. They're not easy to find at a good price around here, so I'd like to be positive they'll survive..

I wouldn't care so much about zebra danios that I had just bought.. maybe I will go with 12 serpaes and 12 danios.. bleh I don't know what to do.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

Why would you do the fishless cycle, its pointless to put the fish at risk when its quicker and easier to do the fishless cycle.

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Why would you do the fishless cycle, its pointless to put the fish at risk when its quicker and easier to do the fishless cycle.

I think it depends on the person cycling, most people like the fishless cycle because its easier but I think the fish cycle is easiest and as long as you do it right the fish arent at risk I used zebra danios and guppies to cycle my tank

 

[nshockeyplaya]

True, however the fish are under stress anytime there is a rise in ammonia or nitrite which there is a rise of both in a cycle. It is unnecessary to put them under this stress and possibly put them to death when you can do it another way just as easy. In fact you could call that dumb to say the least

 

[carrera]

True, however the fish are under stress anytime there is a rise in ammonia or nitrite which there is a rise of both in a cycle. It is unnecessary to put them under this stress and possibly put them to death when you can do it another way just as easy. In fact you could call that dumb to say the least

Quoted for truth. Fishless cycling all the way Ammonia poisoning is apparently very unpleasant for fish.

 

[vancouver]

I've never done a fishless cycle, and don't want to start now on this tank.

I think I will go with some danios and some serpaes.. since it looks like a few people have had success with danios.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

ignorance is bliss

 

[vancouver]

then you're in heaven.


Thanks to those of you who didn't feel the need to make smartass comments along with your posts.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

Not a smartass comment. The person clearly doesn't take the advice of not putting his fish at risk and his stubbornness leads him to ignore any outside output.

 

[vancouver]

You can call me stubborn all you want if I don't take your advice, I really don't care. I don't value your opinion anyways.

 

[diademhill]

Shrimp are better than fish for cycling & you don't even need to defrost them before putting them in the tank.

 

[Lynden]

Really, fish cycling causes little or no damage if you use the right fish for the job. Platies, Danios, and most other cyprinids, livebearers, and cichlids work very well. These animals are built to handle a slight raise of ammonia and it will not hurt them.

The "ethics" of fishless cycling appeared overnight and have appeared to take hold. This is because it is a common human emotion; wanting to be a good person. Trust me, buddy, some people will do anything, real or in this case, imagined to try to feel like a good person.

I have never tried a fishless cycle, and will probably stick to this habit unless I want a tank full of pipefish or something. Fishless cycles are a good choice though; just by no means neccessary or more effective than a fish cycle.

-Lynden