Will my tank recycle?

[serjuanca888]

I have a 75g tank that housed two 8 inch oscars and 4 giant danios. I have had the aquarium empty for about two weeks. If I put two foot long oscars in the tank would the tank go through a cycle?

I assume it would. A mini-cycle maybe? Would it be harmful at all to my fish?

[ROLLIN]

Hi. The tank would have to cycle again. Yes it would "hurt" the fish, cycling isnt good for any fish.

[wetmanNY]

Just a very little AmQuel in the water and some water changes and you should be fine. Just keep an eye out for ammonia and deal with it right away if it registers...

the nitrifying bacteria don't shrivel up and starve very easily...

[ROLLIN]

Can you get some bio-spira? Give that a try....

[steeltown]

I second wetman's reply.

Maybe add one at a time? Unless they are worse off where they are now, then add both.

Good luck.

What happened to the other o's and the pleco? Just curious:)

[JSchmidt]

If there are no fish in the tank currently, why not challenge it with some clear ammonia, to say... 3 or 4 ppm? If the tank can process it (i.e., zero ammonia + zero nitrite after 24 hours), I'd think you could add the oscars without fear.

Jim

[serjuanca888]

Well, one of the O's was chasing a giant danio. The danio jumped out through a little opening. The oscar then knocked of the lid and jumped out after it. I found it dead, with the danio hanging out of its mouth.

I wanted to have two of them and heard that I could not introduce a different sized one. So I sold my remaining one to the LFS.

While at the LFS I noticed a tank, about 120gallons, with two 10" pacu, three huge plecos and 5 foot long oscars. They all seem to being doing well. Even though the tank is too small for all of em. They seem to be a happy group. No diseases, and the water is cleaned very well. They tested it before my very eyes. And at the price of $20 each full grown, compared to the price of $10 for a baby, it seems like a great deal. I think there is even a pair in there. I can only hope.

I have had the tank empty becuase I went (and am still on) a week long vacation. When I get back I am going to purchase the fish. The owner said that all of the fish have been there for two to eight years, with one oscar death (leaped out at night). Sounds like healthy specimens, anyone feel different?

I have heard about Bio-Spira. Does it really work? Is it extremely expensive? I dont really want to wait a month for my tank to cycle so that takes out ammonia cycling.

An alternative to Bio-Spira (probally won't but just an option). I have a bunch of guppies breeding in my back yard. Could I put a hand ful of them in my tank to cycle it?