Cycling with fish

[Jacob Sellers]

What are the cons of cycling a tank with fish other than the obvious (which I am not minimizing) of subject the fish to high levels of toxic ammonia? Thanks.

[thegrun]

Not any that come to mind right away. Perhaps if there was ich present on your live rock, you may have an outbreak that would not have occurred if you hadn't used fish. I would not minimalism the importance of being a responsible reef keeper however and emphasize never to use fish to cycle a tank, there is no justification for doing so.

[Octoshark]

Originally Posted by thegrun

I would not minimalism the importance of being a responsible reef keeper however and emphasize never to use fish to cycle a tank, there is no justification for doing so.

I agree. For the sake of being a responsible reefkeeper, don't do it.

[FrozenSeas]

Most people use damsels to do the job since they a very hardy. But now you are stuck with the damsels which can be a huge pain as they are liable to attack any other fish you put in your tank. Personally I would never do it that way even if the pet shop will take them back for credit just to cruel for me especially when it is way easier to go to the grocery store buy a dead shrimp throw it in your tank and vola your tank will start to cycle. A lot cheaper to do and no guilt. I have done it this way for every tank I have set up except my first over 30 yrs ago.

[rayn]

There is one other small little important detail. Patience. Anyone can throw a fish in and torture them. Kinda like if a person was thrown into a smoky room to help breath out the smoke till it was all clear in my book.

[h2oimports]

u can buy a bottle of bacteria to help with cycle instead of a fish. or a shrimp. you dont want to be stuck with a damsel. they are pretty aggresive

[IPowderBlueTang]

Shrimp is cheaper to buy, just get one raw shrimp at the grocery store 25 cents and its done. Why put a fish through misery and stress for a cycle.

[t00lfan]

Patience...y would you ask that?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Jacob Sellers

What are the cons of cycling a tank with fish other than the obvious (which I am not minimizing) of subject the fish to high levels of toxic ammonia? Thanks.

its an outdated cruel cruel method imo, subjecting any fish to ammonia poisoning is appalling, i actually like damsels, i wouldnt have one in my current tank but do like them, however id always treat them the same as any marine life, use a raw shrimp, a liquid ammonia source or as i do some flake food, a much better and responsible thing to do.

mike

[ka2zesmi786]

2 rules to cycling with fish:
Rule #1. Dont cycle a tank with fish
Rule #2. DONT CYCLE A TANK WITH FISH!!!!!!!!!

i mad this mistake because the LFS told me to do it. and most of them died. i felt horrible. if you want something to help cycle your tank. you can get some media from an already established tank. or buy "microb-lift special blend and microb-lift nite-out 2" i found huge success using these products to cycle a new tank.

[PRDubois]

Originally Posted by ka2zesmi786

2 rules to cycling with fish:
Rule #1. Dont cycle a tank with fish
rule #2. Dont cycle a tank with fish!!!!!!!!!

+5

[spleify]

Originally Posted by ka2zesmi786

2 rules to cycling with fish:
Rule #1. Dont cycle a tank with fish
Rule #2. DONT CYCLE A TANK WITH FISH!!!!!!!!!

There you go, thats all that needs to be said.

[Chiefsurfer]

actually a more scientific reason, BESIDES the best ones of that it is cruel and NOT reccomended, is that it won't be enough.

JUST as an example. Let's say you have a 75 gallon tank. A 75 gallon tank might have a stocking list of something like this when fully done:2 clowns, a wrasse, a goby, a blenny, an anthias, yellow tang, and MAYBE one more fish. That's a total of 9 fish, all breathing, pooping, eating. Let's say you had this size tank, and you wanted to cycle it with fish. How many would you get. From seeing other people with similar tanks, who HAVE gone this route because of bad advice from their LFS, they get 3 damsels. So in what way do you feel 3 damsels, relatively small and clean-eating animals, would prepare your tank for 9 fish plus coral? The bacteria levels will be low, and you will see a MINI-cycle with every addition after the first 2 fish.

[Jacob Sellers]

Originally Posted by Chiefsurfer

actually a more scientific reason, BESIDES the best ones of that it is cruel and NOT reccomended, is that it won't be enough.

JUST as an example. Let's say you have a 75 gallon tank. A 75 gallon tank might have a stocking list of something like this when fully done:2 clowns, a wrasse, a goby, a blenny, an anthias, yellow tang, and MAYBE one more fish. That's a total of 9 fish, all breathing, pooping, eating. Let's say you had this size tank, and you wanted to cycle it with fish. How many would you get. From seeing other people with similar tanks, who HAVE gone this route because of bad advice from their LFS, they get 3 damsels. So in what way do you feel 3 damsels, relatively small and clean-eating animals, would prepare your tank for 9 fish plus coral? The bacteria levels will be low, and you will see a MINI-cycle with every addition after the first 2 fish.

Thank you. This was the reason for my question i.e. the bacteria seeding. I purchased a large tank (400 gal) and had a local "fish guy" install and set it up for me (that was before I had discovered RC). He set if up and stocked it (right from the get go) with a 7 inch queen angel, yellow tang, percula clown, sailfin blenny and a harqulein tusk. The tank never seemed to properley cycle (I was always battling amonia). All of the above fish died last month after the same fish guy sold me some ich infected fish that infected everyhting. I ditched the fish guy and dismantled the tank. I am starting over and want to make sure I am doing it correctly this time.

[Chiefsurfer]

yes, if you were always battling ammonia(any tank over 2 months old should have enough established bacteria in that time frame to handle almost any load, given the space fort the bacteria) chances are that you also did not have enough LR. Depending on what kind of stock(heavy or light) you will need anywhere from 300-500lbs of LR.

SOOOO, I would make sure you have 300-500(300 for light stock, 500 for heavy stock) pounds of rock. Then basically for that system I would add 10 raw shrimp, each single shrimp cut into roughly 6-8 pieces to give more decaying surface-area. Stuff them into a pair of panyhose, tie it, drop it into the water. Have some more raw shrimp on hand, should you need it. I would be looking for an ammonia reading of anywhere from 2-4ppm ammonia spike. If you achieve this, you should be ok.

[Jacob Sellers]

Originally Posted by Chiefsurfer

yes, if you were always battling ammonia(any tank over 2 months old should have enough established bacteria in that time frame to handle almost any load, given the space fort the bacteria) chances are that you also did not have enough LR. Depending on what kind of stock(heavy or light) you will need anywhere from 300-500lbs of LR.

SOOOO, I would make sure you have 300-500(300 for light stock, 500 for heavy stock) pounds of rock. Then basically for that system I would add 10 raw shrimp, each single shrimp cut into roughly 6-8 pieces to give more decaying surface-area. Stuff them into a pair of panyhose, tie it, drop it into the water. Have some more raw shrimp on hand, should you need it. I would be looking for an ammonia reading of anywhere from 2-4ppm ammonia spike. If you achieve this, you should be ok.

Thanks, Chief.