What is the best way to cycle my fresh water aquarium?

Question

I searched the web and there are countless ways to cycle a fish tank.

Should I cycle my tank with fish or without fish?

Answer 1

Definitely cycle without fish. In the end, it is much faster because you don't have to constantly interrupt the nitrogen cycle with cleanings... Just put a few pieces of meat (like shrimp) in the tank,test the water weekly, and let it cycle itself... You could also cycle with plants... To do that, you would plant the tank, so when the plants produce their waste or leaves die, they produce ammonia for the bacteria... Email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 2

You are going to get opinions both one way or another, so really consider all points. I'm with Chris in the aspect I use fish. I find that it gives you something to look at, and if you take daily readings, which are no more tedious then regular maintenence, you can keep them from being damaged. There is nothing inhumane about using fish either. It's quite natural more then other opinions are willing to admit. Fishless cycling is another option. I find this to be more focused on getting accurate readings and forcing you to stay more on top of making sure you have the proper fuel sources once you change stages or risk the work you've done to that point being lost.

There are products being sold to assist, and I've tried just about all of them. The real thing and this is a fact, is overall, not on a case by case basis, but on a whole, you have inconsistant and mixed results for me to say you should use them. I've had limited success on some, and total failures on others. Products to make compounds less toxic also become dangers as well, and will skew your readings. They have uses but I find they are better used with people that have extensive experience and should really be used only in emergency situations.

All in all, the best option out there for speed and accuracy to get a tank cycled is sort of fishless, though you could reduce the exposure to fish significantly, by using established filter media. Granted, it's not always available to everyone, but this would be what I say is the best option. The speed at which this allows you to have a fully mature tank cannot be compared to anything. Once I got my first tank done, my 20 gallon which is now a nursery, my 15, 75 and 180's all cycled out in less then 2 weeks, with no deaths.

Answer 3

Most people will tell you fishless is the more"huamane"method.Either way is fine.Use Danios if you are going to have tropical fish.Use goldfish if it's going to be a cold water tank.
If you go the fishless route,you need an ammonia source.Fish food works,raw shrimp or fish works also.It's a little more messy,but there is no odor,despite what some people say,I've done it this way before.Pure ammonia is the cleanest,but it's hard to find,and you have to add it daily until the cycle has completed,same with the fish food method if you use flakes.
Both methods work fine.If you do use fish,you have to do daily water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at a safe level,so the fish do not die.This is a big draw back to using fish in my opinion.It's a lot more work.Once the tank has cycled though,the maintence routine declines,and you can enjoy your tank.
Fishless is supposed to be faster,because you don't have to do water changes,VS,daily water changes with fish.
There is also a product called Bio Spira that claims you can add fish the same day you set up your tank.I guess it's hard to find and expesive though.Like $25 to treat 30 gallons.
Using substrate or filter media is by far the fastest way to cycle.All you have to do is transfer the bacteria into your tank.But,you have to have a friend who has an established tank,or a pet store that will sell some to you.
All these methods are fine.
Good Luck with whatever you choose.

Answer 4

As I answered in your previous question, I really, really encourage fishless cycling. It's more humane, less expensive, less work and actually a little faster. People use messy foods like shrimp, fish or fish food, but plain, non-sudsy ammonia is so easy and cheap. Yeah, what with all the fancy cleaning products out there these days, it is a little hard to find; I wish fish stores would get a clue and start selling it, but, nevertheless, it can be found and really is the way to go. Some people really pooh-pooh the Bio-Spira, live bacteria, but I have had great, great success with it and, as long as you get it from a reliable local fish store that you know sells fresh product and keeps it well refrigerated, you can be pretty sure it is good. It is expensive, but aren't our fish worth it?! lol! I've used this when the cycle seems to stall. Five days and it jumps into high gear and the level that I was trying to get rid of, ammonia or nitrites, just all but disappeared. Do not use products that claim to neutralize the ammonia. What these products do is bind the ammonia in an agent, but the ammonia is still there and still needs to cycle and all these products do is lull you into a false sense of security by giving you inaccurate readings on your tests. Use dechlorinators, but not detoxfiers.

Answer 5

Well i usually use the fishless cycle im sure you know what it is. I dont feel you should have to have to torture a fish with a fish cycle. a good tip is if u have any other fresh water fish tanks use the filter cartrage to jump start it but if u dont just stick with the fishless cycle. Keep the filter running at maximum capacity throughout the cycling process.

Do not change water or clean anything in the tank during the cycle - it's not necessary and you might disrupt things. Besides, once the fish are in there you'll change water often enough. Enjoy your hiatus. If the water level gets too low, you may top off the tank with dechlorinated water.

Put 3-5 drops of pure ammonia per gallon in the tank, or enough ammonia to make your test kit read 4-5. Now fire up your computer and start researching the fish you want to put in there once the cycle is finished - you are done for now.

Test ammonia levels every day. When the ammonia reaches 1, add more ammonia to bring the level back to 4-5. Continue to put ammonia in the tank until the ammonia level goes to zero within 8-12 hours after the ammonia is put in. Once the tank shows the ability to lower the ammonia level in this time interval, a sufficient population of bacteria is resident in your tank and you're halfway there. This part usually takes about two weeks, but can take as long as four weeks.

Now test for nitrites. They should be VERY high. The nitrites will probably exceed the highest limit of your nitrite test. This isn't a problem, if course, because you have no fish to worry about. Continue to add enough ammonia each day to bring the ammonia level to 1 or 2.

The high-nitrite stage seems to last forever. It seems to me that Nitrobacter (the nitrite-consuming bacteria) grow more slowly than Nitrosomas (the ammonia-consuming bacteria).

When the nitrite drops, it will drop rapidly. When the test reads zero for 24 hours or more, your tank is cycled. This is the payoff for all your patience.

Keep adding ammonia until right before you add fish. Then adjust the heater down to a liveable temperature and do a very large water change (at least 90%). (Remember, to add dechlorinator.) ( just in case you dont know what it is)

Answer 6

Cycling Freshwater Aquarium

Answer 7

Fishless cycling is a better option. You'll obtain the same end result and no fish will be subjected to possible death by water toxicity. Also, if you can get some gravel or filter media from an established tank, your cycling time will be decreased somewhat.

Fishless Cycling information:
http://aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_ar...
http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles...
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fi...
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/...

Answer 8

call me old fashion but i always do fish cycling.

It might be better and a more effective, but again im old fashion and i dont know any other way.

But fishless cycling is out there, and you can find more research on fishlesscycling.com where ashely has tons of articles with fish less cycling topics.

Again, there is a product called cycle, but im not all that formiler with that.

Anyway...

whatever u decide, it is up to you.