View Full Version : Good fish for cycling?
thumper
12-01-2003, 10:11 AM
What is a good fish to use for cycling with fish? I was thinking about some sort of guppy or goldfish, but was wondering if there was any other types?
Wippit Guud
12-01-2003, 10:13 AM
You are about to receive roughly 30 replies suggesting you use fishless cycling....
Fishless Cycling:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forum...=&threadid=5927
tomm10
12-01-2003, 10:47 AM
Yeah, after going the fishy cycling route myself I would say either go fishless or use Bio Spira. Its much easier on the fish that way and you can start off with the fish you want rather than worrying about getting super hardy fish for cycling.
I used Bio Spira part way through my cycling (didn't know about it when I started) because I hated seeing my fish being stressed by the cycling.
Personally I could never deal with the emty tank that fishless cycling requires although it is a very good method. I lack the patience.
thumper
12-01-2003, 3:37 PM
So that's why there's very little information on fishy cycling... I thought I was going nuts! What is this "Bio Spira" stuff and where do I get it? Also, what do I have to do to get chlorine out? Will it get absorbed by the carbon in my filter? (emperor 280) how long will it take?
JSchmidt
12-01-2003, 3:44 PM
Chlorine will be off-gassed in a few hours, but the conservative approach is to buy some type of dechlorinator and add it everytime you do a water change. It's cheap insurance for peace of mind. If your water has chloramine, you have to get some treatment for it. Prime and Amquel are two of the more frequently recommended brands.
BioSpira is sold at pet stores; it contains the bacteria needed to cycle the tank, so it greatly reduces the time your fish are exposed to ammonia and/or nitrites. It must be refridgerated, so many places don't stock it. (Other products that claim to contain bacteria -- like Cycle -- tend not to work, IMO, and should be avoided.)
Jim
aquariumfishguy
12-01-2003, 6:12 PM
More links on cycling your aquarium:
General Cycling Info (http://www.care4fish.com/cycleprocess.html)
Fishless Cycling Info (http://www.fish-disease.com/articles.htm)
Cycling Continued... (http://www.angelfire.com/pro/mavericks/Guide/Cycling.html)
Grassguy
12-02-2003, 5:30 AM
I would recommend fishless cycling, but before I knew about that, I always used guppies.:p
Wippit Guud
12-02-2003, 9:47 AM
Not knowing your location, BioSpira is not available in Canada, I guess we have an issue with importing bacteria :laugh:
The problem with cycling with a fish is that you either have to keep that fish or else find someplace to take it.
And todays guppies are not that strong anymore IME.