Fish while cycling?????

marco rocks

 

I wouldn't recommend peeing in your tank. You are not "just" adding ammonia. Your pee is more than ammonia and I don't even want to know what else is in your pee. ;D



I can't imagine cycling without adding a fish. A bit boring. I see you've already made up your mind.... so I won't harp on it. I don't personally agree with the reasons against using [cheap and plentiful] fish for the cycle (blue damsels, chromi's, captive bred clowns, etc.).

The Damsels are mean argument is an argument to simply not get damsels... ever. It is a separate argument from using fish for cycle. But I do agree damsels tend to be mean and are tricky to remove if desired. Mine survived the cycle and ended up dying a few months later due to Hurricane Ike related power outages that my other non cycling fish survived. My assumption is that the cycle weakened these fish and they had not yet fully recovered.

While cycling with the fish is arguably mean to the fish... so is plucking a fish from the ocean, transporting it in the dark, so on and so forth. If it bothers you, don't do it. I don't worry about them any more than I worry about the minnows I put on a hook.

I will always use fish to cycle.

 

I agree it can be boring, which is why if you do get a damsel, I recommend a chromis. Although then there comes another problem because chromis damsels are a schooling fish and will generally be unhappy as a single fish. Chromis damsels, though, are sometimes called the "Darling Damsel" because they tend to not be like the others.

If I ever cycle a new tank again I don't think I would have a problem setting it up with live rock and walking away. To each their own, though. Like I said, I agree it would be boring.

 

I always ad just one little yellow tailed blue damsel to keep the nitrifying bacteria and as well the demand for them at a constant and steady level . Its never failed me yet. Then I set back and wait 12 weeks for it to totally cycle . These damsels never get mean or aggressive and or large very shy . Where many l make their first aquarium mistake is they feel they need more then one so the fish won't get lonely But if they would have just used one T/T blue damsel then they would never had a problem ..I have one now that has cycled 3 tanks up here in Ct living large now eats and just hangs in the rocks and is seldom seen to busy hiding . .

 

Well Im not going to piss in my tank. but I can buy two fish with no problem or loss.
so how much live rock 3 or 4 ilbs at first just dont know??

 

Hi Eric - being old school myself, I have always used the fish method to cycle my tanks
I have set up 8 saltwater tanks over the years and in 2 different parts of the world
I have never set up a tank smaller than 50 gallons - and always used 2 x yellow tailed blue damsels - and I have always wanted these fish, so they where not just there for a purpose and then swapped out

my current 70 plus system has been set up 16 months and still has the 2 damsels

I would not get dominos, or humbugs as they are not as attractive (IMO) and the reason I get 2 instead of just 1 is simply , whilst Damsels as other will state can be aggresive (YTBs are not so bad) the thing a yellow tail dislikes more than any other fish, is another yellow tail - and after a few minutes displaying in front of my latest addition, fireball angel - both damsels remembered who the real enemy is, and went back to periodically dive bombing the neighbours territory and no real damage is done to either fish

I have honestly never lost a single Yellow tail blue during the cycle - but would never set up a tank smaller than 50 gallons and buy 2 ( not enough territory IMO)

 

Thanks I will try your way.

 

Hi Eric , the guys that make the case for using dead shrimps etc have very valid point , they do so because they care for the life forms and would not want to put any at risk - But IME , Damsels are hardy enough to make the cycle

Im not suggesting my way is the best way, just giving you food for thought based on my own experiences

you decide, based on all the information/ contributions on this thread

Steve

 

Apologies for re visiting an old thread

one of the dangers to be aware of when using the fish method to cycle a tank is simply making sure that if its a yellow tail blue damsel you want, that is what you get
I know they are a commonly available species and most LFS and most times will have them
But if you go into the LFS with the intention of buying a YTB to cycle your tank and they dont have any? you may end up either buying a 3 spot, domino or Humbug - which will cause you problems later - or worse still , going for the clown fish as you do want them anyway in the future

basically , if they dont have what you went in for, dont make impulsive substitutions

Steve

 

A good point from the "dark side" Steve. I kid, I kid, it's all about personal preference.

Eric, I'd take Steve's advice with as much weight as any of the other experienced people here. It just depends on what route you're planning on going down. I'm happy opinions from both perspectives were made and well thought out.