Fishles or non fishless cycle?

[Abercrombie6202]

So... I was thinking of doing a fishless cycle, but that seems a little difficult!! Becuase i don't feel like adding ammonia to my tank, but i also don't want to kill any cute fish. I was thinking of maybe gettin 1-3 danios and putting them in my tank, but i don't like danios and i heard barbs are hardy fish, but there fin nippers! Are there any other hardy fish i could use except them? And is a the Non fishless cycle better? Would plants help my cycle?

 

[kittyfyinc]

I am still new to this but I would suggest Platys.
I didn't know anything about cycling so when I started my fish was dying quickly. All except my platy. They are hardy and easy to keep fish.

 

[-Joe-]

let the tank cycle on its own for a week or two. then add fish. whatever you want - i'd reccomend a danio or two or three. they'll add nitrogen to your tank and your filters will start to get good bacteria going. then either keep those fish and add more fish or get rid of your 'testers' and put in what you wish. plants will speed up the process but brand new water would be a little short on nutrients for the plants - they might die unless you get something hardy like java moss.

 

[kittyfyinc]

Try not to "get rid " of your testers!!

Look for some hardy fish you will want to keep or see if the LFS will trade for others. Maybe someone in your area might want the fish. They are still God's creatures, not something to purposely throw away.

 

[luvfishies]

You will be adding ammonia to the tank via fish pee anyways, so why not just add the ammonia and be done with it?

That way you have time to really decide what you want in the tank permanently.

As you can tell, I'm a proponent of the FISHLESS cycle rather than the fish-in cycle.

 

[colesea]

You don't have to do the fish-less cycle with strait ammonia. Anything rotting in your tank will start the cycle. Next time you cook chicken for dinner (or hamburger, or pork or any meat) nab a piece of the raw stuff, tie it down to a weight, and let it decompose in your tank. Monitor your ammonia/nitrites/nitrates.

Yes, the fishless cycle does take patience and you won't get to add fish right away, but if you don't have patience, then you are definately in the wrong hobby.
~~Colesea

 

[annie areyouok]

This is from someone who has been there and tried to cycle with fish....

It sucks! You worry about your fish getting sick and dying. With out fish you can start you tank faster because you can add large amounts of ammonia that would normally kill the fish...you can also raise the temp of your tank to speed the process which you can't do with fish.

Trust me...adding ammonia is much easier and less stressful and faster then worrying about fish. Plus, I know this is your first tank, as this is my first tank...you can learn alot by monitering your water quality and focusing on that for a few weeks instead of the health of your fish.

Go ahead and read my older posts...I really didn't see the advantage of fishless cycling until I tried fish cycling...

Sorry to sound so passionate but I am now. I had 3 fishies get ich and 1 died from it while trying to fish cycle. I know you have a HUGE tank but I truely think you will be happier if you do a fishless cycle.

Good luck!

Annie

 

[annie areyouok]

Oh...and if the idea of opening a big bottle of ammonia everyday bothers you then you can do what I am doing.

I went to the drug store and bought and empty eye dropper bottle and then filled it with ammonia. I just keep it with the rest of my fish supplies. Most ammonia you aren't going to need to add too much. Depends on how diluted the ammonia is, but the stuff I bought at Walmart, I had to only add a teaspoon (I actually now think that was too much) for 3 gallons to start and then 4-5 drops a day after that to keep it going. I like the idea of just adding ammonia because it keeps the tank looking clean and clear.

Email me if you want to talk more about fishless cycling. I have learned A LOT in the last month since I have had this tank.

Annie

 

[RedTurquoise]

Im also 100% for fishless. Like annie has mentioned, it is actually quite easy but does require patience (isnt that something we should learn anyways?).

Cycling with plants can be done however plants will only use ammonia and nitrates, not nitrites. Therefore you have to cycle the nitrite state anyways which is the longest stage of the cycle.

 

[lizwinz]

adding ammonia to the tank every day is not any more difficult than feeding your fish everyday if you think about it

you have to perform the same tests on your water either way, if you do fishless or with fish

but as far as water changes go you have to do alot less w/a fishless cycle cuz you dont have to worry about keeping any fish alive

so you can deal with levels that would otherwise kill fish, and this shortens the cycle

good luck with the tank, whatever you decide

--liz

 

[Somonas]

Here is a good article that a member of MFT wrote, Josh Wright, but unfortunately I haven't seen him here for awhile!!

http://www.myfishtank.net/articles/fishlesscycle.php

I am a strong supporter of fishless cycle. I have only fish cycled one tank, my first tank, 2 year ago, and every tank since that has been Fishlessed.

 

[Gnome]

Originally posted by colesea
You don't have to do the fish-less cycle with strait ammonia. Anything rotting in your tank will start the cycle. Next time you cook chicken for dinner (or hamburger, or pork or any meat) nab a piece of the raw stuff, tie it down to a weight, and let it decompose in your tank. Monitor your ammonia/nitrites/nitrates.

Yes, the fishless cycle does take patience and you won't get to add fish right away, but if you don't have patience, then you are definately in the wrong hobby.
~~Colesea

w/ meat? my my...
how about your urine? no offense, just curious

 

[RedTurquoise]

It works also! Much better than 'cycle' crap because at least it works!

 

[colesea]

Fresh bird guano would probably be better than human urin, but both would probably be considered pretty unsavory much less unsanitary by most folk.

Then again, fish tanks aren't the most sanitary things<G>.

My boyfriend cycled his marine tank with two pieces of cocktail shrimp. Can't see why the same wouldn't work with a freshwater tank and other various meat. Most "old school" aquarist recommend throwing in a dead "feeder" goldfish.

~~Colesea