Do you really need to cycle a fish tank?

Question

I have a 29 gallon fish tank. Right now i have 5 tetras (serpae).
My father has been keeping fish for a very long time and he sais the cycling process is bullshit. What do you think? Do i really need to cycle my tank or are fish stores trying to suck the money out of my pocket?

(new tank ; had it for about 3 weeks now)

Answer 1

Yes.

You need to cycle a tank.


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Answer 2

"Cycling" happens whether you do it on purpose (fishless cycling, seeding the tank with filter media or gravel from another tank) or not.

All cycling is is the development of bacteria that convert toxic products (ammonia and nitrite) to nitrate. You can do this by adding some pure ammonia or fish food (the ammonia you don't buy in a fish store, and the fish food you'd need anyway so these don't provide additional income to pet stores) or using a few cheap, hardy species like danios (maybe $1-3 depending on how many you buy). There are bacterial additives, but these can be a waste of money - some don't seem to change the cycling time at all. If you want to decrease the cycling time, raise the wate temperature so the bacteria reproduce faster. This only puts money into the fish store if you were only planning on keeping coldwater species, because you'll have to buy a heater, plus a minor amount to your utility company.

As far as not cycling the tank - how much did your serapes run - around $1.50-2? If they would die from ammonia or nitrite poisoning, the loss would be around $7.50-10, plus you'd go back and buy replacements. Not saying that's going to happen, just that you need to do the water changes a little more frequently until the bacterial population is established. But you can feed money into a fish store by NOT cycling just as easily, especially if you buy a lot of fish at first or your fish are of the more expensive variety.

When I first started in the hobby (a few decades ago), no one talked about cycling either. But you were advised not to put too many fish in the tank when you started it, and to build up the number of fish over time. It still accomplished the same thing, now there's just a name for starting a tank this way - cycling with fish.

Answer 3

It depends what you mean by "cycle". You really only need to cycle a tank in the begining before adding any plants or fish. After that all you really need to do is clean the tank and filter. When you do vaccuum the gravel though, add some liquid bacteria like "Cycle" by Nutrafin because by cleaning the gravel, you are removing a lot of the nitrifiying bacteria that break down fish waste and extra food. You do not need to cycle the tank again to add new fish. I really would not recomend cycling the tank more than once (the very first time).

Just run the tank with the filter, heater, water, chem. removers and cycling bacteria to prep the tank for added fish waste for about 2 days (a week is reccomended but it really isn't necessary).

Answer 4

I can only tell you from what i have done. I have never waited like they say you should for your tank to cycle before getting fish . And i guess you can say i was pretty lucky Because i haven't lost any fish. And I have had my tank for a few months now and I had a tank when i was a Kid also. and we never waited.And we always had good luck. I do use Aqua safe when i chance my water and i also use some stuff called cycle. Hope this help some Good Luck

Answer 5

cycling is a natural process and is a good thing. you can buy things that assist in cycling but the test kits etc are a bit overboard in my opinion. you don't need to cycle 5 serpae in 29 gallons. it will cycle for you. the closer you get to the bioload (one inch of fish per gallon) the more you might need to worry.

changing 20% of the water with a gravel vac weekly is more important in keeping the toxin levels down than adding things or testing water. testing water does nothing but test water -- when your water tests ok it still means you have to do the same thing as when it tests high -- change 20% of your water with a gravel vac once a week.

i am on your dads side in part at least. go with simple routine maintenance.

Answer 6

Oh cycling happens no doubt, but he's right about buying stuff that claims to cycle the tank. The cheap stuff simply doesn't work and the expensive stuff is just 30 dollar refrigerated filter sludge. You would be better off getting some filter sludge from your dad's tank to seed your own tanks. I'm sure he can help you. And it works like a dream.

Answer 7

yes you have to cycle your tank but if you put fish in there its going to happen anyways. dont let your pet store sell you bacteria in a bottle that dose not really work since the bacteria cant live in the bottle long enuff to do you any good.
The big thing is dont overload your new tank with fish put 2 in there and waight for a month or so and have your water tested.
you need to let the bacteria build up in your filter not doing this can and often dose kill your fish.

Answer 8

I only wait for temp to be right, but as far as cycle, your tank starts a cycle as sonn as you add fish, is this the cycle you are talking about or are you talking about before you add fish? Before you add fish to a new tank make sure temp is right for fish you plan to get, use water conditioner, I let mine run for atleast 24hrs!

Answer 9

Well i dont know but when i didnt know about all the cyle stuff i set my tank up and got fish the next day and they are fine so i dont think it is really needed, I never ccycle my tanks

Answer 10

ive never cycled my tank and ive had my betta for 7 years so it is bs but if you no your going to get another tank set up the tank the night before you get the fish i found that this works