What Fish Should I Use To Cycle My Tank?

[guppy_man]

hi just wanting to know what would be the best fish or fish's to cycle my tank?
its about 60gal and will have about 10 types of plants in and some slate with encomplete substarte, with my first tank i done a fishless cycle but this time i want to try this way.

 

[endler]

i used platys to cycle my 15 gal

 

[WILDER]

Well no guarantee's the fish will survive, danio's, black widow tetra's, platys but don't find them that hardy.
Can't think of any more.

 

[beux]

I have used Danio's for both of my tanks and they all survived. Hardy little fella's, just make sure you do regular water changes, keep an eye on the stats or even consider doing a fishless cycle.

 

[guppy_man]

i was thinking of platys for the fish in the tank, i am going to have 5 females and 2 males and im going to let them breed.

should i just get 1 platy to start off with or 2 or 3, to cycle it?

 

[WILDER]

5 it's a big tank.

 

[MegTheFish]

Fishless cycling is the way to go, because no fish suffer in the process. Cycling with fish is going to take you a LONG time because you'll have to be doing tons of water changes to keep the levels low.

 

[guppy_man]

i read on another post that i should buy ammonia and just add a couple of drops a day would that be easier.
and i found this...

http/aquariumplant.com/cgi-bin/cart/SS695.html
its sounds great.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[Torrean]

I think the way to go is to seed your tank with the tank that you fishless cycled. Then add fish slowly...when your ammo and ni are zero and have been for about a week then you can add a few more fish. you won't have to do as many water changes and the fish won't be swimming in a toxic soup. A straight fish cycle takes a long time and is very hard on the fish.

 

[MegTheFish]

http/aquariumplant.com/cgi-bin/cart/SS695.html

^Thats a load of BS.
The only thing that really works is Biro-spira (and only if its constanly refrigerated). If you can get ahold of some, you just pour it in your tank and add the fish at the same time, and you have an instanly cycled tank.
With fishless cycle, you suppost to add pure ammonia (instead of adding fish). You can add filter media from your other cycled tank(s) to help speed up the cycle.
My 50 gallon took 7 weeks to fishless cycle, but thats because I only added ammonia at the beginning and not every day like your suppost to.

 

[guppy_man]

ok, so i will do a fishless cycle , i thought it was a bit grim on the fish, fishless cycle is the way to go about it.
so i will buy pure ammonia and buy fine gravel, and then i will put my filter media out of my other tank and a little gravel to help

if i do a fishless cycle like the one ive stated above how long do you think it will take to fully cycle?

 

[dcj38]

well im 15 days into it, but it can take anywhere from 7 days to a rare case of 35 days.

 

[guppy_man]

ok thnx for all the replys guys appreciated
i will update when i actually get the tank
its in my aunties house just sitting on the floor, my mum wont let me have it till easter
i really really want the tank now so i can start to cycle but no, i gotta wait for easter

 

[Die_Grinder]

i ran into a guy at a fish store (not my LFS) who asked a staff member the exact same queston. i was horrified when he suggested discus! i blew up at the guy and was told to leave the shop, luckly the guy followed me out of the store.