I was just wondering which is the best way to go, I've read that fish less cycling can take a month or longer and the long term results might not be the same as if you used actual fish in the process.
I have a 16 gallon bow front tank, I have filled it added declorinator, installed the filter, submersible heater, and a under gravel bubbler, I setup plants, and have a couple of decorations where the fish can hide out. The water temp was high but has been slowly coming down and now is about 78, which I figure is ideal now, it was at 85 on Sunday night. and it has been running since Sunday night.
my girlfriend is getting ansy and is asking when can we put some fish in the tank, I explained to her the chemical breakdown, of Amonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates and how its important the tank be "brokein" before we can start adding fish.
Our plan is to get some community fish, some Neon Tetras, Glo-Light Tetras, maybe a few Glo-Fish
and I really would like to get a Red Tail black shark but don't think it would be good to put it with the other fish listed I've read of people doing it with no problems and I've read that its a big no no to put them with smaller community fish.
So I was going to go with 2-4 Zebra Danios and put them in the tank to begin Cycling but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't be cruel to put them through the process if fishless cycling is a better way to go thats why I'm hear asking for opinions.
any help would be great guys thanks in advance and sorry about the long post just a newbie and wanted to bring everyone up to where I''m currently at.
I have a 16 gallon bow front tank, I have filled it added declorinator, installed the filter, submersible heater, and a under gravel bubbler, I setup plants, and have a couple of decorations where the fish can hide out. The water temp was high but has been slowly coming down and now is about 78, which I figure is ideal now, it was at 85 on Sunday night. and it has been running since Sunday night.
my girlfriend is getting ansy and is asking when can we put some fish in the tank, I explained to her the chemical breakdown, of Amonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates and how its important the tank be "brokein" before we can start adding fish.
Our plan is to get some community fish, some Neon Tetras, Glo-Light Tetras, maybe a few Glo-Fish
and I really would like to get a Red Tail black shark but don't think it would be good to put it with the other fish listed I've read of people doing it with no problems and I've read that its a big no no to put them with smaller community fish.
So I was going to go with 2-4 Zebra Danios and put them in the tank to begin Cycling but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't be cruel to put them through the process if fishless cycling is a better way to go thats why I'm hear asking for opinions.
any help would be great guys thanks in advance and sorry about the long post just a newbie and wanted to bring everyone up to where I''m currently at.