Cycling or not?

[Fishiebusiness]

I have been thinking about cycling and i was wondering what you all think of this.

Say I have a 55 gallon tank with a decent filter (i.e. emperor), and, without cycling, I add two cardinal tetras. Would they produce enough ammonia/nitrites to hurt themselves?

[RTR]

No.

[NJ Devils Fan]

The tank is too big for only 2 cardinals to do any damage to them self.

[Fishiebusiness]

so what if i put 2 more cardinals one week later, and 2 more each week for two months?

[NJ Devils Fan]

It will start to make it toxic. I would just do a fishless cycle so that you do not stress any fish with high ammonia and nitrite.

[Fishiebusiness]

Don't worry, im not stocking any tanks and I don't plan to in the foreseeable future, I'm just talking hypothetically. Anyways, hypothetically speaking, if the fish load is increased slow enough, is it possible for the biofilter to outpace the toxic build up?

[ChilDawg]

I think that, with your hypothetical cardinal situation, you have answered your own question. Yeppers, definitely possible...but you would have to stock the tank veryyyy slowlyyyy and veryyyyy conscientiously with frequent water testing.

[MP]

You won't have any problems with ammonia/nitrite poisoning if you stock your tank that slowly. Actually, you may easily start with many more than just a couple of cardinals. Starting with, let's say, a dozen will be equally safe for the tank of this size.

As for you question about outpacing, let me just note that biofilter cannot OUTPACE the toxic buildup. In the best scenario, it can catch up with the wastes production. :) That's how it works in a fully established tank.

[Dabbler II]

I cycled my 120 gal tank with 10 giant diano's. I did have a slight spike of amonia and nitrite but nothing that major ( not warrenting a water change). Since then I have added fish like 6 black ruby barbs then a week later 6 sae's then a week later 4 bala sharks. I NEVER had a spike since the orignal cycle. and I haven't lost any fish in a cycle and they all seemed happy. I also did a 20 gal with 8 zebra diano's same thing no problems ( didn't loose a fish either). IMO all you have to do is keep an eye on the water quality and if it starts to climb then thats where you stop adding fishes if this is the way you want to do it.
I may be new to fish keeping but I do have a head on my shoulders and I can think for myself. If I was going to move the fish from my 120 into ....200 gal tank then I prob would go fishless, but a new tank...start slow and build it up from there. I enjoy going to the fish stores and if I see somethnig I like I get it.

[ChilDawg]

Good catch, MP. Yeah, I suppose outpacing is impossible, but it's definitely possible to keep the biofilter catching up with waste production. However, there are so many fishless cycling methods and cardinals are not only sensitive but like to be kept in schools, that I would recommend those instead. Again, I know that this is a hypothetical, but others may see what we have written and take it to be the gospel of tank-stocking, and I don't want that to happen!

[Fishy3]

Dabbler, how long did it take to cycle that 120 Gallon. I am getting a 80 Gallon in the next month or 2 and I am doing a fishless cycle, thou I am also selling my 40 Gallon to my neighbor and I wanted to know how long it would take me (just a guesstimate to give to the neighbors till they can get the tank).

[BOOYA]

Is it possible to put the bacteria colony ahead of the fish load by adding a little ammonia to the tank after the tetras were in there? Im talking a very small amount just to have a little more ammo in there than the fish themselves would produce.

[Dabbler II]

It took 4 1/2 to 5 weeks. The 120 is a reef ready style tank. For me both my 120 and my 20 took 5 weeks to fully cycle:D