Newbie Oldbie... 55 gallons

[Wycco]

I kept alot of fish as a kid/teen in a small aquarium... Never understood the cycle back then- never tested the water for anything other than temperature.

Had a lot of short-lived fish. Haven't kept fish in a long time- decided to restart and do some research first.

This time I plan to do things right. I've read up on the cycle and fishless cycles.

I've fallen in love with Kuhlis and Cherry Red Shrimp- both of which I read love sand- and as luck will have it Kuhli's from my research are just about the only kind of loach that won't eat my shrimp (besides the babies if they catch them) and the two cohabit peacefully and happily.

I also read they're both a little particular about water- so I'm going to leave it a few months-even after my cycle before I add them.

Currently had my tank standing a couple days... finally the sand is beginning to settle (despite me washing it like crazy before putting it in-it murked my water somewhat awfull).

Getting ready to add ammonia to begin my cycle (the moment food lion call me back to confirm that their "CLEAR AMMONIA with no phosphates" is really pure ammonia... no scent, no colour, don't know if that means pure though).


So I just wanted to check with the experts if I'm doing this right:
I've got some moneywort, an amazon sword, some Java Ferns and what was sold to me as water wisteria (but looks nothing like the pictures I see online... rounded leaves with gentle spikes on the edges).

I want some Java Moss and Anubias Nano at a later date- but trying to budget this bit by bit.


Once my cycle is complete (whenever that is) I plan to:
1) Get some Danios... maybe a mix of Zebra and Giant- I read they school together- so maybe a total of 8. These would probably be the most hardy to begin with.

2) Wait a week- check water make sure everything is OK.

3) Add another fish (haven't decided what yet... something small and non-aggressive that won't eat plants. Cherry Barbs OK? Or are they as destructive as their tiger cousins)... maybe 6 of them. I'd like a few bigger fish- but I realise with my goal of getting some shrimp- bigger fish would probably kill them all off. Any bigger fish that won't eat my shrimp- or kill my plants)

4) Wait another week or so.

5) Get my long desired Kuhli Loaches. 5 Maybe- I've read that's the minimum best number.

6) Wait another week or so.

7) Get a colony of cherry red shrimp.


Is this a good plan- or do you see any complications? I want my fish to live healthy and happy lives this time. Am I overlooking things... do I need to wait more than a week before adding fish. Is this too many fish for a 55 gallon?

I've read shrimp add a very small bio-load, so I'm assuming they're not a major factor for that.


Many thanks.

[Wycco]

Oh, and I'm NOT going to do it... but just as a silly aside... Could you cycle your tank by peeing in it?

No... I'm not going to do it... just curious... the thought crossed my mind momentarily and made me laugh- but I had to ask.

[OldMan47]

After fishless cycling for a month or more, the zebra danios should be fine. People do use them to fish-in cycle a tank. Are the zebras something that you want in our tank for the long term? If not try going where you intend to go for stocking instead. We used to cycle tanks with feeder goldfish years ago but now we use a bottle of ammonia instead, there is no reason to treat danios as disposable if you really like other fish better. Lots of fish are fine in a newly cycled tank.
The idea of a very slow stocking is a vestige of when we cycled with fish in. The whole idea of the amount of ammonia that we use is to be able to add a fair percentage of our fish right away, just not the most sensitive.

[ChrisK]

If you are going to completely cycle the tank before adding fish, there won't be problem adding all the fish at once. Cycle with pure ammonia bringing the level up to 3-4ppm. Once the nitrifying bacteria can bring the ammonia level down to 0 in 24 hours your cycled, and will be able to add the fish you want, then keep an eye on the water params for a couple of weeks. Giant danios need to be in groups of 5 or more and will get to big for 55. Sounds like your expecting a cycle again after you add fish, if done right you shouldn't have one. I've actually heard of someone cycling a tank with human urine...pretty gross IMO :lol: . Good luck :)