Are 2 zebra danios enough for cycling a 110 gal?
- Thread starter La Barbe
- Start date
No I don't think that 2 will be enough. I don't know the exact number if you are doing a fish cycle, I'm sure that some will be along to help you.
I used 5 zebras when cycling my 55. (and probably could've used a few more). 110 gallons is a lot of water. You could probably use a dozen, if not more.
You really need to get an accurate nitrIte test kit...Once ammonia strats to drop off your nitrItes will really spike!
P.S.
Any # of fish is sufficient, the concern isn't whether you have enough, but rather the balance created by using only 1-2 fish vs. say a dozen. The reason is once you are "cycled" and you add your fish, the bacterias need time to establish themselves and rebalance to the higher bioloads. If you add too much bioload to a system that when you experience "spikes" in ammonia/nitrItes.
The remedy, for a fish-in cycling method, is once a tank is cycled add fish slowly and in small batches (not all at once like you can do in a fishless method)
Test often...
P.S.
Any # of fish is sufficient, the concern isn't whether you have enough, but rather the balance created by using only 1-2 fish vs. say a dozen. The reason is once you are "cycled" and you add your fish, the bacterias need time to establish themselves and rebalance to the higher bioloads. If you add too much bioload to a system that when you experience "spikes" in ammonia/nitrItes.
The remedy, for a fish-in cycling method, is once a tank is cycled add fish slowly and in small batches (not all at once like you can do in a fishless method)
Test often...
This is the problem with the idea that there is some kind of magic status of "cycled". There isn't. There is a tank with sufficient bacteria to support the current fishload, and a tank with insufficient bacteria. Two danios will cycle the tank for two danios - i.e. they will build up sufficient bacteria to support two danios. The size of the tank is immaterial; the fish you put in can only ever cycle the tank sufficient for those fish.
Fortunately, the bacteria can double in 24 hours. Therefore if you had sufficient bacteria formed for two danios and added two more, in 24 hours the bacteria would have multiplied sufficiently to support the four. In the meantime, in such a large volume you would be unlikely to see any bacteria.
Rather than thinking in terms of cycling, then adding lots of fish, think in terms of gradually increasing the fishload and letting the bacteria catch up.
Fortunately, the bacteria can double in 24 hours. Therefore if you had sufficient bacteria formed for two danios and added two more, in 24 hours the bacteria would have multiplied sufficiently to support the four. In the meantime, in such a large volume you would be unlikely to see any bacteria.
Rather than thinking in terms of cycling, then adding lots of fish, think in terms of gradually increasing the fishload and letting the bacteria catch up.
I do know that the tank will balance itself (or cycle) based on the number of fish that the tank is supporting. Any new critters will cause a "mini" cycle. Really it is just a balancing act. Primarilly, after any change you make to the tank, the bacteria need to catch up with the load in order to process waste material and chemicals. The bacteria in you tank is probably your most important critter you care for.