Cycling your aquarium with fish?

Question

I know this isn't the optimal way to cycle your tank, and I am still planning on doing a fishless cycle. I'm just looking for details on how to cycle your tank using fish, and can't seem to find many good sites out there, so I'd appreciate any links or information.

Answer 1

This is one of my favorite site on fish info and tanks: This one shows how to do a fishless tank cycle.
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html

This one with fish:
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/start_up/start_up4.html

The common fish cycle is way faster:
1. Setup your tank with chlorinated water, prefered plants and gravel and a good filter then let the water settler with the filter on and the heater(if have) for 24hours.

2. Get 2 fish of your choice but if its small tetras like neon i would suggest getting 4 or 6of your choice.

3. Add the new fish, and continue to do a weekly water changes(Note-Doing water changes will speed up the cycle proccess faster).

4. After around a week or so add 2-4 fish(if your planning to add any more) then wait, continue with the water change like always.

5. And the cycle will be done when the sight of algae, usually after 3-4weeks.

Feel free to PM Me or top fish contributers for more info.

Hope this helps
WT

Answer 2

The important thing to remember about cycling your tank is its purpose, which is establish beneficial bacteria. There are a couple of ways of doing this.
For a freshwater tank: Allow the water temperature to stabilize, (I usually allow 24 hours for the water to begin cycling and the water temperature to level out.). I would recommend putting some cheap fish in the tank at first. This way you can begin establishing the beneficial bacteria by introducing fish food, fish and their waste, and if there are any major chemical imbalances, you are not losing expensive fish. Keep these fish in the tank for about a week, which depending on the size of your tank, should be plenty of time before introducing new fish.
Here is a link that explains a little more on cycling with fish for a freshwater tank: http://www.worldcichlids.com/faqs/cycling.html
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/article2.php

Unfortunately I do not have experience with Saltwater tanks, but here are some links for cycling saltwater tanks:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/bionitrogencycle/a/aa042098.htm
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Saltwater-Aquarium-3215/22-gallon-65-gallon-2.htm

Hope this helps..

Answer 3

id go ahead and set it up let it sit a day or 2 then add a couple gold fish but its better 2 wait 2 to 3 weeks or more then add your goldfish before u add any really nice fish

Answer 4

Hi ninjaa, seems like a trick qustion to me
But here ya go
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/cycling_your_tank1.html



EB

Answer 5

put some platies or mollies in, or even some cheap feeder mollies or platies, they should survive it and if they dont its no great loss.

Answer 6

please pay a visit to this site
http://www.aquahobby.com
http://www.newaquariumguide.com/?hop=capriswine

Answer 7

Please define "cycle" !!