Cycling my 210g FOWLR with Mollies

I'm going to cycle my new 210g(with 75g sump) and was considering using mollies. What are the advantages of using mollies opposed to just leaving a dead prawn in the tank to start the cycle? And how many mollies should I use for this size of tank?

Also, will mollies eat pods?

 

There are no benefits of adding mollies. Why would you want to burn a fishes gills needlessly. That practice was once common... as was undergravel filters.

 

Agreed, there is no need to abuse an animal so I would just use the prawn.

 

Thanks man, I didn't know it was that hard on the fish. I was also thinking of using them as part of the clean-up crew after a month or so after the nitrate levels have dropped off. I hear they are good for controlling algae and sifting the sand.

But if it's cruel to keep them in salt water, I'll drop the idea.

 

I used a molly, and it was fine. The benefits are… you have something to look at instead of a rotten shrimp, mollies are peaceful fish so you can leave it in when the cycle is over, they are good algae eaters, if you get a pair they will breed, and the fry will make a tasty snack for the rest of the fish (once the cycle is over) And no, it’s not cruel.

 

Fish have brains and nervous systems and pain receptors. This isn't an anemone without any of those things; it's literally subjecting an animal with the ability to feel pain to pain, while knowing full well a dead, 6 cent shrimp does the job just as well.

 

It's not the saltwater, it's the ammonia and nitrites. Whether they can feel pain or not is moot imho. It's the fact that it does damage to thier gills, inhibits thier ability to breath and causes unnecessary stress is what I feel makes it cruel. It'd be like a person trapped in a room with low oxygen levels and full of smoke.

 

It’s up to you, I’m just saying I did it, the fish didn’t even act stressed, and hasn’t had any health problems.

 

I used 2 mollies when I cycled my 150, no problems here, they are still alive and well. JMO, use them, two or three in 285 gallons of water will not produce enough ammonia to hurt them, just speaking from experience.

 

Good point