Best fish for Fish-In Cycling? Other than Danios.

Dawes

First of all I'll need to state that I am fully aware of the pros and cons of both Fishless and Fish-In Cycling a new Aquarium-Tank
- However it is my choice to try out Fish-In Cycling; to which I hope I do not offend anyone and in turn they can equally accept my choice (Since I know how somewhat 'controversial' this subject can be).

I have decided to do a Fish-In Cycling but I do not intend to use Zebra Danios.
So the main reason I am here is to look for other suggestions of small Community fish I could possible use to an equal benefit as the Danios are.

I've also bought some Nutrafin Cycle, amongst other things to aid Fish-In Cycling
(I highly doubt this will have any beneficial effect to my new Aquarium, but I'm going to try it out for good measure either way).

I intend to test my water thoroughly and do 25%(Or more) water changes every one or two days (only if needed of course - Which I am presuming it will be needed).

I intend to be very strict with this tank since I am doing a Fish-In Cycle, and follow my pre-set instructions religiously.

- Thanks!

P.S. My new tank is the Fluval Roma 125 (125 Litres / 33 US Gallons).
I only intend to use 2-3 -small- fish to begin the cycling, as to not overload the water with too much Ammonia from the fish waste.

marshallsea

platys-1 male 2 female

Geomancer

I'm actually not aware of any pros to a fish-in cycle...

It's not faster, it's not 'better', it's not more stable.

Do them a favor and buy lots of fast growing stem plants, and floating plants..

Using products like Cycle will actualy make the process take longer. You can tell by reading the directions, it requies you to constantly add the product, because the bacteria does not survive and replicate on its own. Once you stop using it ... they die and you're right back to an uncycled aquarium.

Black Tetras (long fin version called Black Skirt Tetra), possibly Tiger Barbs. Larger Tetras, Rasboras ... all must be tank bred, not wild caught. Make sure you pick ones that will fit in your overall stocking plan.

jaysee

The best fish to use for fish in cycled are goldfish. All other fish rely on passive diffusion via the gills, to rid their bodies of ammonia. That means that the concentration of ammonia in the water and in the fish are one and the same. This is why it's important to keep the ammonia levels as low as possible. When you have 1 ppm of ammonia in the water, that means that the fish has 1 ppm in it's body, which is what poisons them. Goldfish, on the other hand, can actively excrete ammonia in the form of waste. That means that if the tank has 1 ppm of ammonia, the fish will have less. That is why goldfish are good for cycling, and that is how they survive the awful conditions they are all too often kept in.

thekoimaiden

Seeing as most of the fish that are hardy enough to survive a cycle and small enough to fit in your tank are small schooling fish, you'll need at least 6 of the species. Even zebra danio would need at least six. The fish that are hardy enough to survive a cycle and fit your requests are pristella tetra, cherry barb, bloodfin tetra, buenos aires tetra, and male Betta splendens (this is the only fish that should be kept singly). You can click on the shaded names to see pictures. As you have not provided us with your local water parameters (GH, KH, and pH) all of the fish I have provided are very adaptable.

Goldfish are not advisable for a fish in cycle in this tank because it will not fit in your final stocking plan. A single fancy goldfish could be kept in this tank, but no other fish could be added.

jaysee

No, I wouldn't suggest atually keeping a goldfish in the tank, but the OP wanted to know what was the best and that is them. They can certainly use a feeder goldfish for the purpose of cycling, rather than subject the fish they actually want to keep to the poisoning.

But I agree with geo - there are no pros.....

1077

Feeder goldfish are often disease infested and as such,,is good way to introduce parasites disease.

1077

Would not recommend six of any species in 30 gal uncycled tank, for it will only increase the rate of ammonia being produced.
Three platy's would be about right and with sparse feeding',careful water monitoring,,the ammonia level's may not become harmful .
Have set up lot's of classroom tank's using very few,small fish for cycling process where small children were not inclined to sit and wait for empty tank to mature.
Lot's of floating plant's such as Pennywort be extremely helpful.

jaysee

You're right, by feeder I meant cheap. A fish is a fish.

IMO all fish should be treated for parasites.

thekoimaiden

The stress from a cycle combined with the stress of incorrect living conditions would make the fish very susceptible to disease and would simply complicate the situation. With enough live plants, it would not be a problem to add six schooling fish. But if the OP doesn't want to, then male platy or swordtail would be a better idea. Adding males and females will result in babies and contribute to the ammonia levels.