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Can a convict, JD, GT, Texas cichlid or a oscar cycle a 55 gallon tank. I will be adding one type of those cichlids that is the best sutied in 2 days.


Last edited by riri1 at 03-Oct-2005 00:06

please go to general freshwater forum and scoll down to "Using fish to cycle aquaria" i understand the impatiance/excitment of getting a new aquarium and wanting to have fish in there right way........... but the chances of that the first fish you buy serviving the cycling is very slim or without suffering

90g- anguilla rostrata,6 silver dollars,2 pictus catfish 60 g- anguilla rostrata 29g-4 blk skirt&4 serpia tetras, 6 harliquin resbora, 3kuhli loach 20g- 2 mountian minnows, 2 zebra danio& dojo loach , a corn snake and 2 monster dogs

I would do a Fish Less Cycle.


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Not worth your time or money to use those fish to cycle an aquarium. If you really want to, use danio's or platties/guppies, that way you can keep them in there if you dont like them and the fish that you put in there can eat them at some point! But dont use the big cichlids. they arent always as hardy as you think, especially if you dont have experience!

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

As crazy as it seems, I have never cycled a tank "properly". I always start out with the fish I would like to keep in the tank in the long term. I am 100% sure I have NEVER lost a fish due to the cycling process, etc. I never even moniter the ammonia and nitrite.

In your case, I would add a small convict and JD to start the process. They're so hardy that they're less likely to die than some fish people use to cycle, such as guppies, danios, platies. Honestly, I find most cichlids far better in cycling than tetras, barbs, danios, etc.

(example: I've cycled two tanks with frontosa, not one has died, and they're breeding, which is a clear sign that they are doing well).

After reading that a newbie may come up with his on conclusion and think fish such as discus could be used for cycling. I think it is important to say the fish you have mentioned are above average on the scale of being hardy. It isn't always the ammonia or nitrite that directly kills the fish, but a lot of death comes from secondary diseases caused from the stress of poor water quality.

Last edited by openwater at 03-Oct-2005 19:13

I put 2 babie convects and 1 adult at 4 "

Openwater, I did not, in any way, tell you or anyone not to cycle a tank. I stated that I have never cycled a tank, which is my honest answer, and that I have used cichlids when starting an aquarium. Though this may contradict others, this is a forum, and it is used to state our opinions. I have never told you to use discus, which is generally common sense.

"Honestly, I find most cichlids far better in cycling than tetras, barbs, danios, etc."

Please notice the word "most" - meaning it would be used exclude some cichlids in the sentence.

I am pretty sure, and that I am not the only one, who agrees that MOST cichlids, are far better in cycling a tank than MOST barbs, tetras, livebearers etc, as stated - "They're so hardy that they're less likely to die than some fish people use to cycle, such as guppies, danios, platies."

"After reading that a newbie may come up with his on conclusion and think fish such as discus could be used for cycling."

If we cannot come up with theories, solutions, and conclusions, we will never learn. After years of keeping aquariums, and caring for a WIDE variety of fish, it is hard to say that I should not come up with my own conclusions.

Well, whether you see me as a newbie or an expert is your opinion, I honestly can care less. I see no reason to flat out call people newbies or experts in this forum, we're all aquarists. We're all here to keep fish, learn more, and enjoy the hobby in my opinion. No one knows everything, therefore no one is an expert.

They're so hardy that they're less likely to die than some fish people use to cycle, such as guppies, danios, platies."

I WOULD RATHER USE DANIOs THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER THAN USE MORE EXPENSIVE CICHLIDS TO CYCLE IN CASE OF DEATH. THERE DEFINITE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS IMPROPER CYCLING PROCEDURES CAN LEAD TO LETHAL LEVELS OF AMMONIA AND NITRITE. JUST LOOK AT THE HOSPITAL FORUM. THAT IS MY OPINION.

"They're so hardy that they're less likely to die than some fish people use to
cycle, such as guppies, danios, platies

AS HARDY, I TEND TO DISAGREE. THAT IS MY OPINION.

enjoy the hobby

PRETTY HARD TO ENJOY THE HOBBY IF YOUR TANK HAS DIEING FISH OFF THE START.



Look I was trying to say when I cycled I don't like using expensive fish. Everytime somebody ask me about starting a new tank I informed them about fishless cycling. If that doesn't interest them I suggest they use zebra or gaint danios. Cheap, hardy, easy and people won't tend to overstock with "cycling fish". I'm sure that most cichlids are hardy enough to cycle with, but why risk it? I don't like expensive fish dieing on me. Also I'm not suggesting that you will experience fish loss during cycling the chances are higher. I was merely stating that maybe starting off with the fish you intended to stock the tank with may lead to problems.

Let us learn from your experiences. How many frontosa did you use to cycle with? How big were the tank? What size were the fish? Did you use biological starters? Did you do water changes during the cycling?

Last edited by openwater at 05-Oct-2005 00:16

cichlids arent necessarily exspensive, convicts being about a buck each. At the store i work at, JDS, GT, firemouths, are all $1.99, which are good canditates for cycling also.

Initially, I cycled a 20 gallon with 6 juvenile frontosa as a grow out tank - tahitan moon sand, rock, biowheel 170. They were kept there for a few months. Then I moved them to a new 55 gallon, with 4 brichardi, some pictus cats and some synos and other fish as a grow out tank too, with new substrate and filters, all at once. I did water changes every 2-3 days in small quantities, usually 25%).

A few weeks ago I moved them to a 100 gallon - this time i used the same substrate and filters though, but also added a colony of peacock cichlids.

I have also cycled a 10 and 20 gallon with a pair of rams and 6 white clouds - the pair of rams breeding after 3 days.

I have just tested water on my 100 gallon today, ammonia 0 and nitrite 0.

"'enjoy the hobby'

PRETTY HARD TO ENJOY THE HOBBY IF YOUR TANK HAS DIEING FISH OFF THE START. "

Again..I never lost a fish during the initial process, and about 80% of any deaths are from suicidal fish, or fish killing other fish, which are both rare incidents.

Things that you are stating is irrelevant - pointing out your opinion to what I have said. You could have simply said "Actually, I believe that danios and other fish are also good canditates for cycling also" rather than be rude and basically point out that my information is wrong - which is what your doing. Your are pointing out minor, irrelevant, and rather stupid aspects in what i wrote out, e.g "After reading that a newbie may come up with his on conclusion and think fish such as discus could be used for cycling." - when I have never stated that.

The initial question was "Can a convict, JD, GT, Texas cichlid or a oscar cycle a 55 gallon tank." My answer was yes. There was no reason for you to even talk about how cichlids are not as good for cycling from danios because a). It is not proven that danios are hardier or better at cycling a tank. b). From what you wrote, you probably have never cycled a tank with cichlids.