i want to do a fishy cycle. what fish could i use that are very cheap yet very hardy to do a fishy cycle.
what is the hardiest fish for a fishy cycle?
- Thread starter ledvetterkim
- Start date
it's a lot easier and faster to do a fishless cycle, but if you realy want to (i'm telling you fishless is A LOT easier on both you and the fish!) you must buy a ammonia/nitrite/nitrate test kit, and test twice a day for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, and do water changes if the ammonia gets above 0.25 (in fishless, you don't need to worry about fish dying so you can have the ammonia spkie as high as you like, growing the ammonia eating bacteria that much faster) or nitrites above 0.50 (same dealy^). i'm assuming you understand the basics of cycling from there. the best cycling fish would probably be zebra danios for small tanks and blue/gold/opaline gouramis (all the same species) for larger ones.
Last edited:
If you must do a fishy cycle I would use a Blue Gouarmie. Not only are they hardy they also breathe air and with the bad conditions found in a cycling tank that would help on its survival through the process. Before I knew about fishless cycling I used a Blue Gouarmie to cylce my first tank. He is now going to turn 4 years old and is about 5 1/2 inches. He is happy and has never been ill. Not bad for a Wal-mart Fish huh?
Danios, Certain Barbs.
Just make sure to go slowly and once the cycle has started do not add anything else until the cycle finishes.
Then once againyou can start slowly adding more a little bit every couple of weeks.
A tank cycling with fish does not have to get toxic to get the process done. .25 ammonia will get the job done just as well as 4ppm. Theres no rush take your time. Learn and enjoy the hobby.
Pay attention to whats going on. Do your water tests and you will be fine.
fishless cycles are much easier, as you can let the ammoina spike as high as it wants and you dont have to worry
fishy cycles, on the other hand, need to be monitered at all times. if the ammonia gets to 0.5 ppm, you need to do a water change. if you absolutely NEED to do a fishy cycle, platies are a great choice. they are small, hardy, colorful, and pretty much modle citizens in your tank. the perfect community fish.
BTW, blue gouramis are not good cycling fish, not because they arent hardy, but because they are so aggressive.
fishy cycles, on the other hand, need to be monitered at all times. if the ammonia gets to 0.5 ppm, you need to do a water change. if you absolutely NEED to do a fishy cycle, platies are a great choice. they are small, hardy, colorful, and pretty much modle citizens in your tank. the perfect community fish.
BTW, blue gouramis are not good cycling fish, not because they arent hardy, but because they are so aggressive.
if you add the fish slow enough you might be able to have a "quiet" cycle. start with 2 platies.