Cycling

UgLy_eLf · 02-26-2005, 07:45 PM

My friend is setting up a tank, and I don't quite remember how I did this, I believe I just bought a few fish, and eventually added more in the following weeks. But my question is, what fish would you recommend to use for cycling fresh water?

turtlehead · 02-26-2005, 07:51 PM

do a fishless cycle. cycling with fish is very harmful to the fish.

**Fishfirst** · 02-26-2005, 09:18 PM

yep turtlehead is right... put a piece of ****************tail shrimp in the tank and let it cycle until you get the following readings
ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5-20

UgLy_eLf · 02-26-2005, 09:44 PM

My friend works at a petshop, could I have her grab a dead feeder fish or something and put it in her tank? I over heard a couple of guys talking about putting flakes in the water, or frozen food to start the cycle?

mrmoby · 02-26-2005, 10:59 PM

I'd use a couple of zebras.

turtlehead · 02-26-2005, 11:29 PM

use bottled ammonia.

**Fishfirst** · 02-27-2005, 01:19 AM

Quote:

I'd use a couple of zebras.

A big no no... do this if you want to lose fish or make them suffer... otherwise, just use a ****************tail shrimp as I suggested, a single one wouldn't cost you more than a dime!

DavidDoyle · 02-27-2005, 02:02 PM

I am a proponent of fishless cycling. Use pure ammonia so you can control the process. Using shrimp, dead fish, flakes etc is more messy and less precise. The benefit of fishless cycling is. when done, you are able to stock a tank fully all at once.

If you want to cycle with fish, use hardy ones such as z danios or barbs. You must only use a few fish and then build up tour fish load over months adding a few more each time and then going through a mini-cycle each time.

garfieldnfish · 02-27-2005, 07:28 PM

Since you have an established fishtank yourself, why not give your friend your old filter pad (and get yourself a new one) and some used gravel (you can put the gravel in a pantyhose and he can later toss it or return it to you). Transport this is a container with some of your tank water and add to his tank. This will seed his tank and cycling will go a whole lot faster. Danios are good cycling fish and if the tank is seeded they will do just fine in a newly set up tank.

02-26-2005, 07:45 PM	#1
UgLy_eLf Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 124	Cycling My friend is setting up a tank, and I don't quite remember how I did this, I believe I just bought a few fish, and eventually added more in the following weeks. But my question is, what fish would you recommend to use for cycling fresh water?

02-26-2005, 07:51 PM	#2
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 203	do a fishless cycle. cycling with fish is very harmful to the fish. __________________ http://glassaqua.tk/ - finally got off my lazy rear and did something

02-26-2005, 09:18 PM	#3
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,501	yep turtlehead is right... put a piece of ****************tail shrimp in the tank and let it cycle until you get the following readings ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5-20 __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

02-26-2005, 09:44 PM	#4
UgLy_eLf Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 124	Re: Cycling My friend works at a petshop, could I have her grab a dead feeder fish or something and put it in her tank? I over heard a couple of guys talking about putting flakes in the water, or frozen food to start the cycle?

02-26-2005, 10:59 PM	#5
mrmoby Devout Heathen Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Waterville, ME Age: 36 Posts: 526	Re: Cycling I'd use a couple of zebras.

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02-26-2005, 11:29 PM	#6
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 203	use bottled ammonia. __________________ http://glassaqua.tk/ - finally got off my lazy rear and did something

02-27-2005, 02:02 PM	#8
DavidDoyle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 89 Posts: 497	Re: Cycling I am a proponent of fishless cycling. Use pure ammonia so you can control the process. Using shrimp, dead fish, flakes etc is more messy and less precise. The benefit of fishless cycling is. when done, you are able to stock a tank fully all at once. If you want to cycle with fish, use hardy ones such as z danios or barbs. You must only use a few fish and then build up tour fish load over months adding a few more each time and then going through a mini-cycle each time.

02-27-2005, 07:28 PM	#9
garfieldnfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 661	Re: Cycling Since you have an established fishtank yourself, why not give your friend your old filter pad (and get yourself a new one) and some used gravel (you can put the gravel in a pantyhose and he can later toss it or return it to you). Transport this is a container with some of your tank water and add to his tank. This will seed his tank and cycling will go a whole lot faster. Danios are good cycling fish and if the tank is seeded they will do just fine in a newly set up tank.

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