how do you do it?

I just got this new 46 gallon column tank. Not my largest tank, but I can definitely tell it's going to be my favorite.

However, I'm thinking about doing something different.

For years, when starting up a new saltwater tank I would always use mollies to set up the biology of the tank. Sacrificial fish that don't cost a pretty penny. However I am always left with the mollies when the tank is sustained. I am thinking about buying a fish I actually want to put in the tank rather than starting with mollies.

So my my point is...
I was curious to know how many people skip the sacrificial fish and actually put fish they want in their tank starting out and if they have been successful in doing that.

 

Look up fishless cycling. It's unnecessary to add a living fish that will struggle painfully through the cycling process, especially if you don't even want that fish to begin with.

 

Dr Tim's One and Only! Look under sponsor's tab above

 

Using a fish is out dated IMO. It's cruel anyways.

Buy some beneficial bacteria in a bottle and use live rock.

Setting up a new aquarium: Ammonia Removal: One And Only Nitrifying Bacteria by Dr Tim's Aquatics

 

+3, completely unnecessary, Dr. Tims, and then you can add a raw table shrimp and let it dissolve, use fish food everyday, or use pure ammonia to cycle, then once cycled, add a fish ya want

 

I use bottled bacteria in addition with the mollies. I've never had any of the mollies die either so they definitely feels unnecessary.

The 46 has 20lbs of sand that's been used recently in another tank. It also has about 10 gallons of water from an established tank.

I definitely want to skip out on the mollies/sacrificial fish and it's starting to sound like I can.

 

The sacrificial frozen table shrimp. It is still a sacrifice, since it can't be consumed with cocktail sauce, so the pain remains. But the rest of the bag shrimp still tastes good...sure beats mollies with cocktail sauce .

 

You can actually use bottled ammonia with the One & Only so nothing gets sacrificed!!!!!

 

except for the extra cocktail afterwards?