Best Fish for Cycling
- Thread starter Sparty00
- Start date
MSU Fan
Active member
Most everyone on here will recommend not using a fish to cycle the tank - go the grocery store and buy 1 raw jumbo shrimp per 30g, and let that be used to cycle the tank.
When you ammonia and nitrite test kits read 0, and you have nitrates, you have completed the cycle. It may take weeks, so be patient. Do you know if the LR was cured before you go it?
There are links on this site and others that can describe in much more detail how the cycle works and why a dead shrimp is better and more humane to use than any live fish, regardless of its "hardiness". HTH
When you ammonia and nitrite test kits read 0, and you have nitrates, you have completed the cycle. It may take weeks, so be patient. Do you know if the LR was cured before you go it?
There are links on this site and others that can describe in much more detail how the cycle works and why a dead shrimp is better and more humane to use than any live fish, regardless of its "hardiness". HTH
papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
Re: Best Fish for Cycling
Best fish is none, it's not needed at all to cycle a tank. LFS like this recommendation, I think it's cause they know that a tank cycle is toxic to all fish and inverts and in all likelyhood, you'll kill the fish cycling with it, and have to buy another fish from the LFS. Hmmmmm, more money for them? Waste of money for you.
Best fish is none, it's not needed at all to cycle a tank. LFS like this recommendation, I think it's cause they know that a tank cycle is toxic to all fish and inverts and in all likelyhood, you'll kill the fish cycling with it, and have to buy another fish from the LFS. Hmmmmm, more money for them? Waste of money for you.
cdangel0
New member
As mentioned above - toss a raw shrimp in the tank for a few days. You already have a bacteria colony established on the LR so you may not see muhof a cycle, continue testing for another week or so, if you still have no detectable ammonia or nitrites, then do a 20% water change and you should be good to go.
techigirl78
New member
If you got cured LR, then it is likely you had no cycle. How much live rock did you get?
I'd work on getting some water changes done to lower nitrates. Are you using RO/DI water?
I think a Moorish Idol is the prime candidate for cycling a tank. LOL nah just kiding. Ya I fell for the same trick a little over a month ago. In freshwater you can do that all the time because there are soo many fish that can do it no problem. Although in SW your almost guranteed going to loose fish.
I got roughly 55lbs. of live rock, and about 10 lbs of base rock. It was premium Figi Rock and was porous, not much room for anymore.
I am using RO / DI water now. When I setup the tank originally I used tap water. Since the levels of phosphates were a little high I purchased a RO / DI device and have been using that water to top-off for the last two weeks.
Originally when I filled the tank, I only put sand in it and had it running for almost a week before I added the LR, and like I mentioned before the LR has been in for 2 weeks.
Thanks for all your information..MUCH Appreciated !!!
I am using RO / DI water now. When I setup the tank originally I used tap water. Since the levels of phosphates were a little high I purchased a RO / DI device and have been using that water to top-off for the last two weeks.
Originally when I filled the tank, I only put sand in it and had it running for almost a week before I added the LR, and like I mentioned before the LR has been in for 2 weeks.
Thanks for all your information..MUCH Appreciated !!!
mikeandjenn99
New member
You probably don't even need to put in a raw shrimp with cured lr. Just toss in a pinch of food and you'll be fine. The shrimp smell like crap after a couple of days anyway. 
cowboyswife
New member
No fish, just patience.
