Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater

[cabletech94]

Need to let your water cycle for at least a week before you put fish in. Or your fish WILL DIE. (duh)

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by cabletech94

Need to let your water cycle for at least a week before you put fish in. Or your fish WILL DIE. (duh)

Actually the cycle won't START without ammonia (fish waste), so you need fish to even start the cycle.

For FW, I use mollies because they're very resilient. They'll usually live through the cycling process.

The cycling process often takes MUCH longer than a week. If you don't want the hassle of using a drip reagent test for Ammonia, get the 5-in-1 test strips to test for nitrite and nitrate.

At first, both values will be zero. Over a few days, the bacteria will begin to begin to convert ammonia to nitrite and you will start to see the nitrite pad change color. Eventually, a 2nd strain of the same bacteria will begin to convert nitrite to nitrate.

When the cycle is complete, nitrite should drop to zero and from then on you should only see nitrate on the test.

[The Bunk]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Actually the cycle won't START without ammonia (fish waste), so you need fish to even start the cycle.

For FW, I use mollies because they're very resilient. They'll usually live through the cycling process.

The cycling process often takes MUCH longer than a week. If you don't want the hassle of using a drip reagent test for Ammonia, get the 5-in-1 test strips to test for nitrite and nitrate.

At first, both values will be zero. Over a few days, the bacteria will begin to begin to convert ammonia to nitrite and you will start to see the nitrite pad change color. Eventually, a 2nd strain of the same bacteria will begin to convert nitrite to nitrate.

When the cycle is complete, nitrite should drop to zero and from then on you should only see nitrate on the test.

I kick off my cycle with a raw, uncooked shrimp from the grocery store. You'll see an ammonia spike in 7-10 days. Cycle usually takes 3-4 weeks to complete in my experience. I wouldn't risk putting in a fish right away. I've never actually done it that way, but can't imagine that it wouldn't be extremely stressful on the fish.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by The Bunk

I kick off my cycle with a raw, uncooked shrimp from the grocery store. You'll see an ammonia spike in 7-10 days. Cycle usually takes 3-4 weeks to complete in my experience. I wouldn't risk putting in a fish right away. I've never actually done it that way, but can't imagine that it wouldn't be extremely stressful on the fish.

Raw shrimp is a good way to introduce Saprolegnia unfortunately.

I've cycled with mollies and they get through it pretty well. Yes, it's stressful but it's really the only SURE way to cycle a tank and not end up with problems later.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Actually the cycle won't START without ammonia (fish waste), so you need fish to even start the cycle.

Lots of sites recommend using straight ammonia and just letting the tank fishless cycle itself.