Fishless cycling

[0742Sheff 10]

Personally when I had a tank I was advised by someone experienced to treat the water to get rid of the chlorine and the add 5 blue danios to the 2ft tank and they would be perfectly fine in fact I kept them for the full time and just ended up with a little shoal of them as they were nice little fish. had them for over a year without a death.

 

 

I did the same thing with a shoal of 12 Neon Tetras roughly 18 months ago. They all survived over a year. I'm down to 6 now but i expected to lose them a lot sooner.

[dirteecash 10]

i have never ever cycled a tropical fish tank, and never had any problems (dead fish etc)

i dont know why people do it. i have had my rays around a month or so now i only filled the tank up and got it up to temp the same week i got them and have'nt had a single problem its actually hard to stop them from eating they are getting nice fat tails now.

 

is there actually a need for cycling a trop tank as i have'nt found one or is it just because it makes the owner happy ?

[0742Sheff 10]

Bare in mind that we in this region have some of the best water quality in the country out of the tap. I don't even use tap safe when doing water changes. In other parts of the country i would guess using tap safe is a must.

[dirteecash 10]

Bare in mind that we in this region have some of the best water quality in the country out of the tap. I don't even use tap safe when doing water changes. In other parts of the country i would guess using tap safe is a must.

 

yes i have realised that over the years, we do have very good quality tap water here, which is obviously a benefit for us

i myself have never used any water conditioners etc but i have never liked the thought of putting chemicals in my tanks

i suppose if anyone was worried about the water quality it may be a better idea to invest in an ro unit.

[Nutbrown 10]

I did the same thing with a shoal of 12 Neon Tetras roughly 18 months ago. They all survived over a year. I'm down to 6 now but i expected to lose them a lot sooner.

Neons should easily reach 5 years old if kept properly... I would class 50% die off in 18 months as a clear sign they were negatively affected by a fish in cycle.

 

As for cycling, yes it is neccesary if you want to do the best by your fish. Personally I can't comment on on stingrays though, only 'typical' fish. I don't know enough about rays to know if their respiratory system is similar enough with respect to ammonia or nitrite poisoning.

 

Just a note this isn't me trying to preach. I'm just relaying facts. Having been on a fish forum as an active member for a few years you soon see that the number of people who have a successful fish in cycle are in the vast minority. And is often the probable main cause of un explained premature deaths as you just dont see anywhere near the number of un explainable premature deaths in fishless cycled tanks.

[Nutbrown 10]

yes i have realised that over the years, we do have very good quality tap water here, which is obviously a benefit for us

i myself have never used any water conditioners etc but i have never liked the thought of putting chemicals in my tanks

i suppose if anyone was worried about the water quality it may be a better idea to invest in an ro unit.

 

Water conditioners are very obvious chemicals though. And its clear how they do there job and why they're important. Ie. Removing chloramine and binding heavy metals. But you are right, sheffield water is unbelievably low in a lot of the 'bad' things. So water conditioners are barely neccesary and probably depend a lot more on what you're stocked with.

The only issue with RO is having reconstitue what you removed. I know alot of people who use it for the rarer expensive freshwater shrimp as they can replicate the shrimps natural waters by adding exactly what is required.

[GreenBlade 10]

this guy knows his stuff on planted tanks,here he talks about RO water.

love his vids. Go with what Nutbrown is saying, cycling is needed..i never used to cycle and fish would die in a few months, now..not lost any..*touch wood*

[0742Sheff 10]

Neons should easily reach 5 years old if kept properly... I would class 50% die off in 18 months as a clear sign they were negatively affected by a fish in cycle.

 

Easily? I doubt there is a 5 year old neon in the country tbh.

 

My losses were partly due to a fungal outbreak and (i am guessing), stress, brought on by introducing two angels that fought non stop.

[Nutbrown 10]

Easily? I doubt there is a 5 year old neon in the country tbh.

If you ask about on fish forums for people who have added neons to a fully cycled tank I reckon you'd be surprised.

[Flashheart 10]

Think i am almost there. The ammonia readings have been drooping to one from 3 daily. My nitrite level is around 3.3 and nitrate around 110. Do I keeping top up the ammonia levels and wait for the nitrite level to fall, or is it now complete, and ready for the waterchange.

[Nutbrown 10]

Just keep topping up the ammonia until your nitrites are showing 0 after 12 hours. Then do your big water change(s) and you're ready. But you need to keep topping up the ammonia each day until you buy fish (even once the cycle is complete) to stop your bacteria colonies from dying back.

 

Congrats on finishing it. I just finished cycling my bfs tank ready for his birthday. Luckily I seeded from my main tank though so it only took me 7 days.

[Flashheart 10]

Success. Checked today nitrates down to 0. Water change, then The fish can enjoy their new home.