Hardy enough?

[GeraldTheMouse]

Is the rummynose tetra hardy enough for a cycle? I am wondering because I want to do a fish in cycle, with some of the fish that I want in the tank. All help is appreciated.

 

[Etheostoma]

Probably not. Supposedly they're fairly sensitive. I say supposedly because I've had a school of them for over a year with no problems.

 

[Zman16]

I don't think they can either. I think cories can go through cycle.

 

[FroggyFox]

why dont you just do a fishless cycle? You have some plants in there...if its going to be a planted tank a fishless cycle will go even more quickly! You can seed it with media etc from your established tank to help speed it up. Could be finished in a week or two...as opposed to losing fish and doing lots of extra water changes and taking several months to cycle...

 

[Pure]

Totally agree with what Froggy said, a fishless cycle would go very fast if you used media from your current tank. You may not even see one.

To answer your question: Absolutely not. Out of the tetras (none are a good choice for fish cycle) they are probably one of the most sensitive. Really you may as well try to cycle the tank with discus. So much to the point that even if I were seeding a tank with filter media from another tank and I didn't see any spikes, I would not put them in the tank until I knew for sure it was well seasoned.

And no Cories are not a good choice either.

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

Fishless cycle it is then, because nothing I want would survive the cycle. Thanks for your help. Its not going to be heavily planted, but between here and there.

 

[Etheostoma]

Wow!

I can keep sensitive fish, w00t!

Not quite as hard as I'd imagined. Maybe I'll try my hand as some Brook Silversides. Last time they died in the sein, before I got it out of the water. Not kidding. You look at brookies wrong they go teats-up.

 

[Pure]

Sensitive fish are not hard to keep as long as you keep water quality up, as I'm sure you do.