Fish for Cycling?..comeon just think about it!

[Anonymous]

I have heard of people that have used many different hardy marine fish for cycling a new tank. This tank will be an 85 gallon FISH ONLY. What would you use IF you had to use fish. Please limit the nasty remarks to a few pages ok? I am looking for experienced hands on people's suggestions. I know that there are many of you out here that have done this. These are the people I want to hear from. Have Fun!

 

[Anonymous]

I have used damsels in the past to cycle a tank. I would not do it again. I would use live rock/sand. Or the dead shrimp method. Just becuase its a waste of money if any of the fish die when it is avoidable.

 

[brewerbob]

I used damsels and still have them. No apparent ill effects on the fish. And yes, I was actually very mean to them. They went in after 24 hours of the water being in the tank. Water + salt + 24 hours = fish in the tank.

From others here and from talking with the guy at the LFS, live rock is the easiest and fastest way to cycle a tank. The more the better (up to 2 lbs per gallon). None of my numbers (nitrate, nitrite, etc) ever really peaked or did anything funky. I was reading teh same numbers for 4 weeks. The LFS confirmed the numbers adn said the tank was done cycling. My theory is that it cycled in the first week with 5 damsels and 7 lbs of live rock. I'm just now up to 62 lbs after 5 weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

I have used everything from mollies to pee.

Hun, I really get the feeling that you're pretty much doing this by the seat of your pants, and have you done a water change on the current tank yet?

Even if the residents don't outwardly appear to be stressed, this will weaken them and shorten their lifespans.

Don't get ANY nurse sharks until you've begun lactating yourself!

 

[Anonymous]

I have used damsels in the past to cycle a tank. I would not do it again. I would use live rock/sand. Or the dead shrimp method. Just becuase its a waste of money if any of the fish die when it is avoidable.

I have used Blue Devils,Domino Damsels,and Yellowtails to start two tanks. None died except when I removed some rock two hid in it. I was able to save one but one died. They are real cheap.I mean I can get four for ten bucks sometimes. I am going to feed my lions some as a snack.

 

[Anonymous]

I used damsels and still have them. No apparent ill effects on the fish. And yes, I was actually very mean to them. They went in after 24 hours of the water being in the tank. Water + salt + 24 hours = fish in the tank.

From others here and from talking with the guy at the LFS, live rock is the easiest and fastest way to cycle a tank. The more the better (up to 2 lbs per gallon). None of my numbers (nitrate, nitrite, etc) ever really peaked or did anything funky. I was reading teh same numbers for 4 weeks. The LFS confirmed the numbers adn said the tank was done cycling. My theory is that it cycled in the first week with 5 damsels and 7 lbs of live rock. I'm just now up to 62 lbs after 5 weeks.

What size tank you got?

 

[Anonymous]

I have used everything from mollies to pee.

Hun, I really get the feeling that you're pretty much doing this by the seat of your pants, and have you done a water change on the current tank yet?

Even if the residents don't outwardly appear to be stressed, this will weaken them and shorten their lifespans.

Don't get ANY nurse sharks until you've begun lactating yourself!

LOL....I just need to get my tank...stand and substrate now for the 85. My current tank is doin better after adding 3.5 pounds of cultured and cured liverock. My Nitrates are now 0 and Ammonia is .25.........All the inhabitants are doin fine. They all have a good appetite. Especially My fox and Eel. They are eatin out of my hand. Oh yeh.one more thing. I purchased a Seaclone 150 that everyone seems to hate and think is useless. It is doing great pullin alot of green slime out after just three days. I will give a full review after usin it on my New 85. Have Fun!

 

[Will C1]

get some clown fish. their hearty and most likely survive. they are much cooler and not soo much of an azz hole like the damsels.

 

[danmhippo]

Black mollie. Their prolific breeding pattern provides your FO tank with unlimited supply of live food.

 

[Will C1]

good one dammhippo i forgot about hose guys. i even had some guppys my trigger wouldent eat that spawned in the salt water. these are even cheaper bangbang. 12 for a buck at my lfs.

 

[reefsRcool]

ok dumb question but how can a freshwater fish survive long enough and be happy enough to actually propogate? am i missing something?

 

[Anonymous]

Mollies are from brackish water and can adapt to full salt.

 

[Will C1]

some fresh water fish are brackish by nature and can be successfully converted to salt. i have seen it done with guppys, mollies, a few angel fish and some of those fresh water puffers.

 

[Joe DeSantis]

Try a volitan lion if you plan to add one in the future. They are extremely strong fish. I have seen them in salinity of 1.035+ in a tank which was seriously neglected and not topped off for evaporation for a long time. I have cycled a 40 gallon tank with a 3" lion before. You would be amazed...good luck

 

[Expos Forever]

Allright, I'll be the first to bite. Why in the **** cycle your tank with live fish? IT IS NOT NECESSARY! If you feel like feeding damsels or guppies or mollies to your lionfish, go right ahead. Doesn't mean you have to torture the things first (by cycling your tanks with them). That's like burning cows with cigarettes just because they'll end up as hamburgers anyways one day. As previously stated table shrimp will have the same effect.

I really don't understand. And the fact that they're cheap? Stray cats are free so if I follow that brilliant logic I can torture them too right? IMO any self-respecting human being that subjects a fish to this on purpose should have their reef tanks taken away by their mommies and forced to breathe exhaust fumes for a couple hours. As seamaiden has previously stated just because your fish doesn't croak on the spot there is a very good chance that your fish will have it's lifespan shortened and will have suffered needlessly. :roll:

 

[Will C1]

Allright, I'll be the first to bite. Why in the **** cycle your tank with live fish? IT IS NOT NECESSARY! If you feel like feeding damsels or guppies or mollies to your lionfish, go right ahead. Doesn't mean you have to torture the things first (by cycling your tanks with them). That's like burning cows with cigarettes just because they'll end up as hamburgers anyways one day. As previously stated table shrimp will have the same effect.

I really don't understand. And the fact that they're cheap? Stray cats are free so if I follow that brilliant logic I can torture them too right? IMO any self-respecting human being that subjects a fish to this on purpose should have their reef tanks taken away by their mommies and forced to breathe exhaust fumes for a couple hours. As seamaiden has previously stated just because your fish doesn't croak on the spot there is a very good chance that your fish will have it's lifespan shortened and will have suffered needlessly. :roll:

oh come on were talking about guppies that are going to be thrown into a tank full of salt shocked and near death then consumed by some large predator. whats the diff? if you acclimate them properly at least they'll be alive and not tortured and eaten.

 

[Expos Forever]

I also should have mentioned that feeding freshwater/brackish water fish to marine fish long term will lead to fatty deposits and a lack of nutrition (due to a lack of HUFA's).

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/f ... /index.htm

 

[danmhippo]

STE, I don't cycle with live fish, I use LR and shrimp. But since the original poster stated "What would you use IF you had to use fish". Hell knows why this has to be the prerequisit, but we are just answering the question. Obviously the original poster knows the concerns already, otherwise he wouldn't state that.

 

[Anonymous]

STE, I don't cycle with live fish, I use LR and shrimp. But since the original poster stated "What would you use IF you had to use fish". Hell knows why this has to be the prerequisit, but we are just answering the question. Obviously the original poster knows the concerns already, otherwise he wouldn't state that.

Thankyou!

 

[Anonymous]

I also should have mentioned that feeding freshwater/brackish water fish to marine fish long term will lead to fatty deposits and a lack of nutrition (due to a lack of HUFA's).

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/f ... /index.htm

Do you even have a fishtank? Just curious.