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I'm starting a new 46g tank and wanted to know how many fish to use for the cycle. I've always done a fishy cycle with zebra danios and have had great success. I just can't remember how many I should use.

The LFS is really far away (like over an hour) so gradual stocking isn't really an option. I'd just like to get 5 or 10 and do the whole cycle with those. I'd prefer to get 10 but that seems like way too many.

Hi,
It sounds like you live in the "out back" like I do.
It's an 81 mile drive, one way, over 2 lane mountian
roads for me to the nearest LFS.

Perhaps now would be the time to suggest "FISHLESS"
cycling. All you need is some regular, household,
no perfume added, ammonia. Saves the fish, and works
wonderfully, without the hassle.

Here is a link:

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I can get granular ammonium chloride from my husband (he's a scientist)...but he needs to know how many grams or miligrams to bring home. I have no idea.

One more question....I use Seachem Prime as my dechlorinator since I already have some ammonia in my tapwater. Should I use a different dechlorinator that does not detoxify ammonia during a fishless cycle? If so I'll need product recommendation.

Hi,
As to how much to bring home, go back and read the link.
In it, it says how much is needed to raise the ammonia
level to the desired amount. It is given in grams/gallon.

As far as a dechlorinator, I see no sense in adding it
when there are no fish in the tank. Later, after the
tank has cycled, I don't believe that form of ammonia
is a problem for the fish.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I think you need the dechlorinator because the chlorine or chloramines can kill the bacteria I'm trying to grow.

I agree that you would have to declorinate or it will stunt the growth of the bacteria.

Most labs I've worked in have Ammonium Hydroxide, that's what I used to cycle my tanks. See if he can get his hand on that. You will have to dilute it a lot but it works really well.

-Josh

He brought home 10g of powdered ammonium chloride today. I think that should be plenty to make it through a cycle...although it's a little tiny vile...I thought 10g was more. I guess I'll give it a whirl tonight. Wish me luck!

Hi,

Do you have ammonia test kit?
It's worth having one and test the level of ammonia after you've dosed with NH4Cl, as level too high can have negative effect on bacteria taking up colony.

I recommend Seachem Prime as your water conditioner. Many say it removes ammonia from the water hence disrupts the cycling process, but seachem site says it turns ammonia into a non-toxic form that will not harm the fish but is still availiable to bacteria.

Also, it detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as well as remove Chlorine and Chloramine. So, although it's best to allow the full cycling process to be completed, some times we tend to get restless and add fish early. With Prime, at least it protects the fish from the toxic effects of those chemicals if they are present. Still not recommended to add fish early.

Also, try some Seachem Stability. It contains deactivated benificial bacteria what will activate when added to aquarium. Another way to "seed" new aquarium with nitrifying bacteria. Also good for future use when you change media or add new fish. Especially in your case when the fish population and bio load is likely to increase by quite a bit when you buy lots of fish at once. Add some Stability will help to colonize the bacteria much quicker.


Good Luck!
James

either that or else u can put some bio-spira in there. but that can be kinda expensivell.

I've been cycling for 2 weeks now. I've topped the tank off twice and I've used Prime each time. I started my ammonia off at 4ppm and have been putting in half that since my nitrites started rising. The ammonia dropped to zero several days ago, but my nitrites are still around 2ppm. So far everything seems to be going quite well. I'll still stock the tank rather slowly since I'm still deciding what I want to put in there.