FISHIE CYCLE, getting conflicting info, please help!!!!!!!

[PPOHolbrook]

OK i have heard both sides of the story as far as fish and fishless cycle. That aside, if I wanted to cycle WITH fish should I go ahead and stock the tank pretty good at first to get the cycle started?? I hear that if you just add a few fish and cycle, then when u add more you could get a mini-cycle and I am trying to figure out the point to that!!!!!!!!!! I am not saying completely stock but add most of what i want. it is a 75 gallon if that needs to be known!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian

[H3D]

What type of fish are you going to use and or house in the aquarium?

[PPOHolbrook]

I am thinking about 1-2 Severums as the mian attraction. As faar as the others, i am open. ANy suggesitons?? I have 4 giant danios i am putting in also. Was toild that isnt enuf to cycle with if using fish. They are about 1 1/2 inches big now. Might add Kribs, still thinking about it really, maybe Corys Red tail Shark.
Brian

[Blueiz]

Being that you have a 75 g tanks, if you start out stocking very slowly, theres a good chance you can have a virtually silent cycle depending on the size of the fish you are adding.


if I wanted to cycle WITH fish should I go ahead and stock the tank pretty good at first to get the cycle started

My recomendation is to start out slowly, there again, I have no clue what fish you are going to stock, so I can't recomend how many of what to put in to start with. Adding a large amount of fish at one time will ultimately be a disaster. It only takes one fish to produce ammonia and get the cycle started. Bacteria will not grow any faster with lots of ammonia or nitrites than it will with just a little. What you want to do is add a small bioload, as your ammonia and nitrites get to zero, add another fish. You will have a short spike in your parameters (mini cycle), but it won't be near as long as it took the initial cycle to complete. For healthy, happy fish during a fishy cycle..stock slowly.


I hear that if you just add a few fish and cycle, then when u add more you could get a mini-cycle and I am trying to figure out the point to that
If you add new fish to a fully cycled tank, regardless of how long the tank has been set up, you are going to experience a mini cycle. Depending on how many and what size fish you add to a cycled tank will determine how long the mini cycle lasts and what extreme you water parameters will go and how fast the parameters will rise (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). Most often this mini cycle is so fast, we do not notice it.

Buy, if you havent done so already, a liquid test kit for testing your water. I recomend the aquarium pharmaceuticals master test kit. Its really simple to use and not at all expensive.

Blue

[H3D]

Like Blueiz said 4 giant danios should be enough to cycle the aquarium.

[PPOHolbrook]

I have spotted a Severum at the LFS, small about 1 1/2 omches. I know impulse buy and all, but I am home now lol. The colors and makrings are incredible and I was wondering if this fish could withstand a cycle with 4 danios. I will be running 2 Aquaclear 70 filters on this tank if that matters.Again it is 75 gallon tank and I do already have a Master kit Blue!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the advice though!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian

[Blueiz]

I say yes in a 75 g tank. Just teset your water parameters and change water as necessary (ammonia, nitrite < .25) You want to keep your ammonia and nitrite below .25.

Blue

[PPOHolbrook]

Blue--------- or anyone--- If those things rise above .25 what do I do?? I have heard not to add anything and let the cycle take its course. I have then heard to add something to settle the ammonia down to not stress the fish so much!!!!!!! But i would think that would hamper the cycle itself as as I understand it the ammonia turns to nitrite, then to nitrate etc.

Brian\

[Reddog80p]

Blue--------- or anyone--- If those things rise above .25 what do I do?? I have heard not to add anything and let the cycle take its course. I have then heard to add something to settle the ammonia down to not stress the fish so much!!!!!!! But i would think that would hamper the cycle itself as as I understand it the ammonia turns to nitrite, then to nitrate etc.

Brian\

If the ammonia or nitrIte go over .25 ppm, do a water change. It won't hurt the cycle. Why not add bio-spira or fritz turbo start and add most of your stock?

[BucJason]

If the ammonia or nitrIte go over .25 ppm, do a water change. It won't hurt the cycle. Why not add bio-spira or fritz turbo start and add most of your stock?


True, but it's always best if you let the water sit and not do any water changes during a cycle. You never know what you're introducing into the water during a water change... If chlorine or something gets into the tank it will kill your tiny bacteria colony, and you're starting all over. Just one less thing that could possibly go wrong.

But if you have fish you have no choice...that's why fishless cycle is best

[livingword26]

True, but it's always best if you let the water sit and not do any water changes during a cycle.

That is only true for a fishless cycle, this person is wanting to do a fishy cycle, in which case it is imperative that you keep the ammonia and nitrites below .25



You never know what you're introducing into the water during a water change... If chlorine or something gets into the tank it will kill your tiny bacteria colony, and you're starting all over. Just one less thing that could possibly go wrong.

Thats why you use something to remove toxic chemicals like Aqua safe.

[Rbishop]

If doing a fishy cycle, IT IS NOT THE BEST THING TO FOREGO WATER CHANGES!

[willsher]

I'm pretty new at this too, I heard and took a lot of advice. Most didn't work until someone told me to only do partial water changes, which i did every week 20-25 percent. The other thing i did, or didn't do, was touch my filters. I haven't cleaned them in awhile and when I do I plan to only rinse them in siphoned tank water. Anyway, the moral to the story is this, until I left my tank filters alone my tank wouldn't cycle, and while you have ammonia make sure to do reg water changes.

[Blueiz]

Change as much water out as needed to get your ammonia and or nitrites to .25 or below. Water changes are you best friend. Be sure to dechlor your wate BEFORE putting it in the tank, and if you are using a python, add enough dechlor to your tank for the whole tnak (not just the amount of water you are changing) before you put the new water in.

The only products out there that completely remove ammonia from your tank are the kind such as ammo-chips you put in your filter. Other products such as ammo-lock that you put in your tank water detoxify the ammonia, however leave it available for your bacteria to consume. I highly suggest you just stay on top of water changes and leave the chemicals, other than water conditioner, out of the equation.

As far as cleaning your filter media, clean it as often as needed by swishing it around in old tank water. You will not harm your bacteria by doing this, they may enjoy a fresh bath ;). The bacteria are firmly attached to your filter media once they are established.

Blue

[PPOHolbrook]

REDDOG. I talked to several people about using BIO-SPIRA-have not heard of Turbo Fritz. SOme say it works pretty good and others say it is flop.
Anyone ever used Eco-Start or Stability?? I am thinking maybe just do water changes!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see once ammonia starts kicking in this thing. It is back up and running with the danios right now.

Brian

[H3D]

REDDOG. I talked to several people about using BIO-SPIRA-have not heard of Turbo Fritz. SOme say it works pretty good and others say it is flop.
Anyone ever used Eco-Start or Stability?? I am thinking maybe just do water changes!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see once ammonia starts kicking in this thing. It is back up and running with the danios right now.

Brian Fritz Zyme is similar to Cycle it contains the proper ammonia eating bacteria, but not the proper nitrite eating bacteria. Not worth buying IMO.

http://www.fritzpet.com/nitrifying_bacteria_main.html

[Reddog80p]

REDDOG. I talked to several people about using BIO-SPIRA-have not heard of Turbo Fritz. SOme say it works pretty good and others say it is flop.
Anyone ever used Eco-Start or Stability?? I am thinking maybe just do water changes!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see once ammonia starts kicking in this thing. It is back up and running with the danios right now.

Brian


I am only familiar with the two (bio-spira & fritz turbo start) both have worked for people I know personally, It helped "kick start" the bacteria growth. I recommended fishless cycle, why put your fish and yourself through the stress involved if you do it right. With fishy cycles you only save about 2 weeks as opposed to fishless cycle, and your not fully stocked. Just MO.

-Red

[BucJason]

I am only familiar with the two (bio-spira & fritz turbo start) both have worked for people I know personally, It helped "kick start" the bacteria growth. I recommended fishless cycle, why put your fish and yourself through the stress involved if you do it right. With fishy cycles you only save about 2 weeks as opposed to fishless cycle, and your not fully stocked. Just MO.

-Red


Alot of times it can increase the time it takes the tank to cycle. Why? Because you are having to do 50% water changes everyday just to keep the ammonia and nitrite spikes ( which WILL come) at a level where your fish won't die, just live in agony, for the sole purpose of producing the same waste ( ammonia) that you can buy at any grocery store for 2 bucks. All these constant water changes can cause all kinds of imbalances.

There is no benefit to cycling with fish. It's more work, and frankly it's just stupid...

trust me ,I learned it the hard way. The only REAL reason people do it is:
1= ignorance
2= they are too impatient to stare at an empty tank for 5 weeks or so.

If you insist on buying fish right away, at least don't be cheap and buy Bio-spira.

[Omega]

Anyone ever used Eco-Start or Stability?? I am thinking maybe just do water changes!!!!!!!!!!! We shall see once ammonia starts kicking in this thing. It is back up and running with the danios right now.

BrianHi Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bio-spira is special in that it's actual live bacteria ready to eat and not whatever is in products like Stability and Cycle.