Poll for all those who did a Fishy Cycle

[nickmcmechan]

If you could go back and do it again, would you do a fishless?

[mostlycichlids]

If I had to do it over I would not do either. I would get a seeded filter pad add it to the filter and begin adding fish. No cycling necessary!

[Star_Rider]

If I had to do it over I would not do either. I would get a seeded filter pad add it to the filter and begin adding fish. No cycling necessary!


actually I consider this a fishy cycle..just a really fast one:laugh:

[-KT-]

If I had to do it over I would not do either. I would get a seeded filter pad add it to the filter and begin adding fish. No cycling necessary!

I agree, thats what I did with my betta and he was fine. I also had the tank heavily planted by the time I seeded it and I still monitered the Params.

[ct-death]

See here for the same thread and pole for responses by others on this tpoic as well... http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123357

In short, it's far too easy, often faster in the end, and does not harm a living thing...why NOT do a Fishless-Cycle???

[jpappy789]

I did a fish cycle with Bio-spira which is what was recommended by the lfs. Never saw anything bad, but I now know what really was happening to the fish.

[Star_Rider]

actually any time you add fnew fish to an established tank you wil throw the cycle off. usually resulting in a mini cycle..very similar to cycling with filter material or live bacteria...
I'm not sure I would conclude anything bad happened to the fish.

[nynikki]

In short, it's far too easy, often faster in the end, and does not harm a living thing...why NOT do a Fishless-Cycle???

Because I was in Petsmart to get supplies for my salamander, noticed the Betta and thought it would be nice to have a small bowl, I also included a mystery snail. Of course I followed all of the advice I was given at the time, yet somehow when I came home I had questions and ended up here. After much advice about getting a filtered tank for the Betta, I decided to get a 30g...etc... I now had 1 Betta and 1 Mystery snail and a 30g tank. After much debate, I put them both in the tank it was a better environment. I also added a few others, to speed up the process of the fishy cycle. I made the commitment then that I would do what it took to get through it. So if ammonia is zero today, and .25 tomorrow, I guess that means I'm doing a WC.

So I guess the answer to "Why Not?" ... is simply that some people just find themselves in a situation where a decision needs to be made, and though not the optimum, it is better then the alternative. Sorry, I felt I needed to defend my position here. I can only think that at least this Betta is no longer in a cup of blue water.

[Weezer]

Use media from a well established tank..........:)

[Trubador]

When doing a fishy cycle, don't we need to have "some" ammonia in the tank for food for the bacteria that eat ammonia? In other words, exactly the time ammonia appears first in a fishy cycle isn't the time to change the water, we have to leave the fish in the ammonia for a day or two, correct? Then change out a lot of the water. Hopefully after that, some bacteria exists to break down the ammonia into nitrite. Then the same thing happens with the nitrite into nitrate cycle....so in short we still do water changes, but doing a fishy cycle means that the fish has to be subjected to some tough water conditions, otherwise it will never cycle...

do i have this right?

[nickmcmechan]

ammonia is constantly being expelled by the fish, if there is fish in a tank there will be ammonia

when ammonia hits 0.25 the fish are harmed...let it continue and they could die

so yes, if doing a fishy cycle and ammonia hits 0.25 you should pwc, thats how a good fishy cycle works....however fish are harmed in the process and i find this unacceptable...for me its about doing whatever maintenance it takes for fish to thrive rather than survive....

the tank will still cycle with pwcs every time ammonia hits 0.25, but it will take less time if you let the ammonia rise further (and therfore harm fish more)

my question is this...if you are happy to do a fishy cycle (intentionally, i think we've all done it by mistake in our early days)....then why are you keeping animals....? in the presence of full knowledge of a safer, faster method, it seems wrong to continue fishy cycles...frankly i'm shocked and disgusted at the poll results

thats my opinions


(stage right, stands down off soap box)

[KRUNNCH540]

I have cycled fish once in my first aquarium, but that is because I was a noob and listened to the petsmart clerk. I then realized now that I have an established tank of more than 10 fish I don't want to kill them...I am attached to them. My question is how much ammonia do I need to add to a 75G tank and a 30G sump to get the cycled going? I would rather wait forever than harm my fish.

[nickmcmechan]

put a few drops of ammonia in and test in a hour...keeprepeating until you get to 2/3ppm and then stop....your cycled when ammonia dosed at 2/3 ppm and nitrites cleared in 24 hours

[Lansirill]

I fishy cycled my first tank, just like just about everybody else under the sun. I tried to do a completely fishless cycle on my second tank but I couldn't find a good source of ammonia so I gave up after two weeks of having a disgusting, moldy tank. I put the filter pad from my 10G into my 33G and put 6 bloodfins in. My 45G received another 10G filter pad, plus all of the gravel from my 10G, and had a betta and 6 praecox rainbows tossed in.

I don't think I would ever try to muck around with a completely fishless cycle to be honest, but neither do I think I would do a completely fishy cycle again. I have a hard time imagining not being able to get established media as I like to at least be close to a major city, so I'm not going to worry too much about what I would do if I couldn't find any.

[Johnnyr]

My question is, why do so many people think a cycle with fish is acceptable? Do you just not care about the fish? If you KNOW they can and will be harmed....why would you do that to something you supposedly care for?

Makes absolutley no sense.

[nickmcmechan]

My question is, why do so many people think a cycle with fish is acceptable? Do you just not care about the fish? If you KNOW they can and will be harmed....why would you do that to something you supposedly care for?

Makes absolutley no sense.
well said

[Viettxboii]

i usually start off on a fishless cycle for the 1st few weeks and as things start to stabilize a bit i add my 1st fish into the tank, usually something hardy, and more wc's from there..

[nickmcmechan]

i usually start off on a fishless cycle for the 1st few weeks and as things start to stabilize a bit i add my 1st fish into the tank, usually something hardy, and more wc's from there..
on the fence?

[Viettxboii]

yep i am i voted on both, i scooped 1 gallon in and out every few hours on my 33 lol...

[silentskream]

yes, a lot of people get stuck doing a fishy cycle because they get a fish before they do any research. but now that i know to do my research ahead of time, i always have the option to do a fishless cycle, and i always take it.

i do use established filter media and in many cases established gravel to speed things along though.

now that i know better, i will not subject any fish to serious cycling and will recommend that my fellow fishkeepers do the same.

[CC917]

I had my first tank in February. That was when I hardly knew anything about aquariums. So, the tank was cycled with fish. As a beginner, not only my fish but also I felt stressed during the cycling.

During that time I started to read and do research on fishkeeping. I realized the tank could be cycled without a fish. So, when I had my second tank, I tried this fishless cycle and it worked very well. Now the fish in that 38G tank are all very happy and healthy.

My new tank 40G is set up. No fish yet... I am thinking about getting some filter media from other tanks and then just have 2 little fish in the new tank first. I also can take some decorations or plants from established tanks. Will there be enough bacteria to support the new set up? I do not know if this can work okay and fish won't get damaged. Anybody can share your knowledge on this with me?

Much appreciated!

[silentskream]

it would at least help give you a head start..

you can go ahead and put the filter media and decorations in and then put some ammonia in to "test it" if the ammonia goes away, you should be ready for fishies!.. i did the same type of thing on my most recent tank and it was ready for fish in less than a day (although i just kept up with the ammonia adding for another couple days to be sure.

[AnDr3w]

Wow cant get closer then this. I just made it 27 to 27.

I do fishy cycles because the more ammonia that they produce, the stronger the colony of BB will be.

[nickmcmechan]

Wow cant get closer then this. I just made it 27 to 27.

I do fishy cycles because the more ammonia that they produce, the stronger the colony of BB will be.
sorry i dont believe thats true, the colony will be just as strong on a fishless, if not, stronger imo

[canucksfan1]

when i first started keeping fish i didn't know anything about cycling or any of that all i did was waterchanges every week, never even tested the water and all my fish that were in that first tank are still here happy as ever, and now that i have all my tanks i don't have to really worry about doing a full cycle on my tank because i can just take established media out of a couple filters for my new filter on my new tank and only go thru mini-cycles

[silentskream]

Wow cant get closer then this. I just made it 27 to 27.

I do fishy cycles because the more ammonia that they produce, the stronger the colony of BB will be.

i think that's completely inaccurate. by doing a fishless cycle you can put MORE ammonia in without hurting anything (whereas with a fishy cycle you haveto keep it low to protect the fish) so you get more bacteria more quickly (which is why fishless cycling rarely takes longer than 6 weeks and fishy cycling takes twice that)

PLUS in order to keep your fish safe, you have to do water changes way more often and test test test test test. there's no sense doing all that work when you can get the same results faster with less than half the work and none of the risk.

so yes, fishy cycles are "OK" as the poll suggests (when done properly at least), but more trouble than they're worth.

[nickmcmechan]

shocked and horrified that the majority think fishy cycles are ok

[IceH2O]

My question is, why do so many people think a cycle with fish is acceptable? Do you just not care about the fish? If you KNOW they can and will be harmed....why would you do that to something you supposedly care for?

Makes absolutley no sense.

Depends on what fish you're planning to keep.

My 75 gallon is a Pred tank so I could have cycled with rosy reds and when the cycle was complete added my bichirs or Spotted Climbing Perches.

Don't care about the rosy reds because they were going to be dinner for them anyway.

But didn't matter because I had a tank that was OS and OTS when I found this site and I just moved part of the filter media from the 20. Still had a small minicycle though.

[H3D]

There is no option for a Bio-Spira cycle. ;)

[nickmcmechan]

There is no option for a Bio-Spira cycle. ;)
devil's advocate!!!!

[cmartin]

If you live in Canada then Bio-Spira is not an option - we can't get it here.
I ended up doing a fishy cycle on my first tank - could not find a source of ammonia or Bio-spira - and then the great advice from my LFS and I am fishy cycling.

Now that I have established tanks - no need to really cycle - just seed and monitor.

I have learned a lot in the last few months - but if for some reason I did not have established tanks to seed from - I am back to square one. About the only option open to me would be use rotten shrimp or the like.

I still don't understand why Bio-Spira is so dangerous that it cannot be allowed across the border...perhaps someday it will change.

[AnDr3w]

Depends on what fish you're planning to keep.

My 75 gallon is a Pred tank so I could have cycled with rosy reds and when the cycle was complete added my bichirs or Spotted Climbing Perches.

Don't care about the rosy reds because they were going to be dinner for them anyway.

But didn't matter because I had a tank that was OS and OTS when I found this site and I just moved part of the filter media from the 20. Still had a small minicycle though.

Thats EXACTLY what I did.
75g tank, preds, cycled with rosy reds, and then they were fed to birchers and catfish.

[AnDr3w]

Also, Its hard to sit there with a tank with no movement in it. At least with feeders you can watch them swim. I wouldnt be able to have a 75g empty for a month.

[unbeatablec]

My question is, why do so many people think a cycle with fish is acceptable? Do you just not care about the fish? If you KNOW they can and will be harmed....why would you do that to something you supposedly care for?

Makes absolutley no sense.
I AM MAN HEAR ME ROAR!

[nickmcmechan]

Thats EXACTLY what I did.
75g tank, preds, cycled with rosy reds, and then they were fed to birchers and catfish.
my wife has me under strict instructions not to have preds that feed on live fish...we see it as unethical....just our opinions and can understand that there are fish that couldn't be kept otherwise....

[unbeatablec]

Thats EXACTLY what I did.
75g tank, preds, cycled with rosy reds, and then they were fed to birchers and catfish.
lol same

[td7298]

I did a fishy cycle with my first tank. I bought a new 40 BDR and am planning to use seeded filter media to cycle it. Although I am not against doing a cycle with fish and would do it again.

[OldMan1947]

Let me add my 2 cents. I know enough now not to start another fishy cycle from scratch but over the years I have done many. When I started, we didn't have nitrogen testing kits for the home user. That said, I bought some new tanks recently and they are sitting empty. No water, no heater no nothing. I am cycling a new filter for my empty 29 on my 125. My old filter is still running on it so no real cycle on it but the new filter is getting a chance to benefit from a well established aquarium. When it has been on there a month or so, I expect it to act like a cycled filter. Meanwhile it is doing no more harm to my established tank than running a pump without a filter. My reasoning is that the old filter pretty much takes care of the nitrogen cycle in that tank and the new one can build up the needed colonies of bacteria without the tank going through a cycle at all. The most impact it is likely to have is that as the new one starts to work as it should, the old one may not see quite as much ammonia and nitrites as it normally would so I may get a mini cycle when I take the new one to the new tank. If my theory works out, I should be testing good and ready to add a few fish only days after moving the new filter over.

[nickmcmechan]

Let me add my 2 cents. I know enough now not to start another fishy cycle from scratch but over the years I have done many. When I started, we didn't have nitrogen testing kits for the home user. That said, I bought some new tanks recently and they are sitting empty. No water, no heater no nothing. I am cycling a new filter for my empty 29 on my 125. My old filter is still running on it so no real cycle on it but the new filter is getting a chance to benefit from a well established aquarium. When it has been on there a month or so, I expect it to act like a cycled filter. Meanwhile it is doing no more harm to my established tank than running a pump without a filter. My reasoning is that the old filter pretty much takes care of the nitrogen cycle in that tank and the new one can build up the needed colonies of bacteria without the tank going through a cycle at all. The most impact it is likely to have is that as the new one starts to work as it should, the old one may not see quite as much ammonia and nitrites as it normally would so I may get a mini cycle when I take the new one to the new tank. If my theory works out, I should be testing good and ready to add a few fish only days after moving the new filter over.
i would class that as a fishless cycle...the fish have not been used to cycle when they are actually in an unseeded tank

[raduque]

My first post.

I just finished (as in about 20 minutes ago) setting up a 55 gal I bought from a friend. I'm going to do a fishless/seeder cycle on it, because I need it ready fast. I need to rehome everybody (except my Rosy Barb) to the 55.

My 20, my only tank for about a year now, was fish cycled. I have to admit I kinda just winged it. Didn't do any water changes, didn't do any measuring/testing, and all my fish are thriving. Two blue paradise fish (my favorites), 4 tiger barbs, one rosy, two gold gouramis and a chocolate pleco. And, now you know why I need that 55 established ;)

[nickmcmechan]

My first post.

I just finished (as in about 20 minutes ago) setting up a 55 gal I bought from a friend. I'm going to do a fishless/seeder cycle on it, because I need it ready fast. I need to rehome everybody (except my Rosy Barb) to the 55.

My 20, my only tank for about a year now, was fish cycled. I have to admit I kinda just winged it. Didn't do any water changes, didn't do any measuring/testing, and all my fish are thriving. Two blue paradise fish (my favorites), 4 tiger barbs, one rosy, two gold gouramis and a chocolate pleco. And, now you know why I need that 55 established ;)
ahhh, a convert!

[Margaret1975]

I made the classic newbie mistake and didn't cycle my tank before I put fish in it. I didn't know that I had to. I read the instructions that came with the aquarium kit and did everything that they said...unfortunately, those instructions didn't mention anything about cycling. I ended up losing my angelfish. I'm currently doing daily pwc's to keep the ammonia down, but I will NEVER do that again. From now on, it's fishless cycling for me