Fish for Cycling

DancesWithFish

DancesWithFish

Don't mess with the penguin!
Apr 24, 2005
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Hello, I'm 13 and have a new tank(20g not long). I'm going to get some java moss, 2 Otocinclus cats, 3 lyretail guppies, all male, and 10 Glowfish tetras. Which fish shoul I use for cycling first and which should I add next? Thanks! :joke: :) :joke: :)
 
i think you should try fishless cycling, which ensures that none of your new fish will get hurt by leaving them in the tank during a cycle. here is a link:
Cycling Options
 
Otherwise make sure to buy test kits and do frequent tests for ammonia and nitrite. Keeping these numbers as low as possible will keep your fish alive.

Do not add otocats until the tank is very mature and has a decent growth of algae in it. I would wait a few months down the road. I also would suggest addingmore than just java moss if you want to keep otos happy. A broad leaved plant selection is a better choice (try java fern as well).
 
I cycled my 29G with 3 Swordtails and never ran into a problem during the Nitrogen cycle. They key is to test your water religously. In that regard I tested my water in the morning and at night before bed. My tank has been going strong for two months now and I have only had one death which was the result of dropsy.

I do not know much about Guppies other than they are "a good beginner's fish". I would start out with those three and not feed them for the first day and then only a very small amount once a day for about a week to be sure that you have a handle on cycle. Do not add anymore fish until your Amonnia and NitrIte remain at 0, then you can slowly stock your tank. Just remember to acclimate your fish to the water.

Make sure that you have a good Test Kit.

My 29G fully stocked now has 3 Swords, 6 Pristellas, 6 Lemon Tetras, 2 Neon Dwarf Gouramis, and 3 Corys.
 
and easy fish less cycle is with fish food.
take a good amount and grind it up a little so its easier for it to sink and decompose so there will be enough ammoina.

if you NEED to fishless cycle, id add the guppies first.

after my 20 gallon was cycled in May, i didnt add my 2 otos until August just to be sure everything was stable and there was enough algea growing on the decor (i usually scrape the front and sides)
 
I'm thinking of adding some freshwater clams' 3-4, and a neon tetra, maybe. Any Ideas? P.S. I'll add the Java Ferns and only add 1 otto.
 
zebra danios are amazinngly hardy, as are black skirt tetras dude. Just change out of the water when you start seeing high nitrite.
 
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I have read in quite a few spots that freshwater clams are far more trouble than they are worth. I wanted some but decided against it because they are said to die quite easily and can really and seriously foul the tank.

Do the fishless cycle. Not only is it entirely fish safe, but it is also in my experience a lot faster to get established. And probably a lot less effort and money. Consider just adding a few nibs of ammonia from a gallon that costs less than a dollar, never having to change the water (which is money and time!) until just before you put in the fish, and not having to replace the fish that might die from the cycling experience. vs the cost and labor of the fish-in cycle. Not to mention it's far less cruel. You will find yourself having to test test test, use up lots of dechlorinator on every water change, and what's worse watch fish suffer. If you fishless cycle you just add a few drops of ammonia every few days, wait a few weeks, and test to see if it's done. Talk about painless.

I'm at a point where I simply don't understand why anyone would fish cycle a tank.

It's the aquarist equivalent of eating raw beef.
 
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jm1212 said:
FW clams are very hard to keep, and you can tell that they are dead until they start to rot and make the ammoina and nitrite skyrocket
Click to expand...
Thanks. By the way, I believe you meant to say "can't"
 
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