Bandi Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Hi all ya knowledgable fish fanciers, just wondering what fish I should cycle my tank with. I have these to choose from: any opinions on which ones are the hardiest to preform the task at hand 1, 7" oscar 3, 4" sunset cichlids 3, 1.5" convicts 2, 4" five bar cichlids 1, 16" clown knife fish 3, 4" red zebras 2, 6" blue mbunas 1, 5" venustus 2, 12" common plecos 2, 3" red devils 2, 5" jack dempseys I have other fish also but I don't think they should even be in the running for a cycle. I know convicts are an obvious choice, but three little fish in a 160 G tank I don't think would do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuz Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 I personally think subjecting any of these to cycling your tank is a little cruel to your fish, it can lead to if not death serious gill damage!! If i was in your shoes with as many setups as you have i would take a bit of established media from a few setups and cycle that way. No harm or punishment to any fish and the job gets done probibly quicker!! Just my 2 cents though do what you want!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaggle Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Read up on fish less cycle. If you are dead set on using fish I would use the convicts since they are feeders :tongue: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandi Posted July 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Yes, I have put media from a well established filter into my new tank's filter today, but without a fish in there to keep the "cycle" going, the bacteria will die. Or am I wrong about that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaggle Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 If you are using the media from a cycled tank then your tank is going to be mostly cycled. you can slowly add the fish you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishkabod Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 I second that. If you start with a few fish at a time and use Stability then the bacteria in the media you used should take care of the small amount of stuff the fish produce. You could also do some over feeding one day and then add a new fish or two a day or two later. If you start with the media transfer and then add as many fish as you think that will support then slowly add more then you should be safe. Watch the levels of all three ammonia NitrItes and NitrAtes. When the Nitrates show up and ammonia disappers enitrely along with Nitrates Add more fish. Stability will help immensely. IF anding a few more fish doesn't affect the levels of Ammonia or NitrItes then add more until it does and then repeat the same process until all your fish are good. It shouldn't be too hard or too complicated Just watch your levels and take it slowly as you think is safe based on the species. I think after the most robust fish are stable in the tank add the heavy waste produceing pleccos. Good luck L P.S. To get my 80 gallon ready i added the Fluval to my existing tank and had it run there till my new tank is good to go. you can also take some rocks and substrate from another tank and use that in your new tank/filter to help boost the cycle. (gravel in a net bag works great!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punman Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 When I moved my 8 almost adult frontosas from my 90 gallon to my new 180, I just moved a couple of sponges over with 175 gallons of new treated tap water and 5 gallons of water from the old tank and that was it. No problems. I would never "cycle a tank" unless it was my first tank in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandi Posted July 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Well, thanks for all the imput...sounds like I am on the right track. I put lots of media and sponge squeezings in the new tank and filter and I will start adding a few fish very slowly...over a period of several days. I think all should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaggle Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 The tank will support as many fish as where in the tank the meida came from before you have to start slowly upping it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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