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I'm in the process of setting up a 180l freshwater tank, using the fishless cycle method. It looks like my levels are starting to become fish habital so I'm hoping to be able to place some fish into the tank in the next few days.

Now i know the idea is that the levels should be nicely stable before putting the first fish in, and I will be making every effort to ensure that is the case. However, just to be on the safe side I'd like to put in the most hardy fish first - just in case there's a change in the balance with the fish introduced.

So my question, out of the following possible choices which would be the hardiest?

- Harlequin Rasbora
- Black Phantom Tetra
- Guppy
- Golden Neon Barb

Thanks
Jay

Well I don't know what you mean by golden neon barb, but if it's a gold barb I'd guess that it's hardiest. Harlequin rasboras are also quite tough IME. Guppies are a little dodgy, it really depends on the source - they can be either very fragile or tough as nails. Tetras seem to be a bit more sensitive to water quality changes than the others.

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I'll tell ya what, from my past experiences, make darn sure that tank is cycled before adding fish. I know that the temptation is to get some cool fish in there ASAP. But, with this hobby, nothing pays off more than patience when it comes to initial set ups. You'll save yourself much time, energy and heartache if you wait until your Ammonia and nitrites read 0 for a few days before adding fish.

As for hardiness, Barbs are some tough little fish. I started with Tiger Barbs myself, didn't wait for the tank to fully cycle and other than contracting Ich, they did fairly well. I attribute the Ich to stressing them with poor water quality conditions (i.e.: uncycled tank), thereby making them susceptible to getting the nasty case of Ich they got.

So, take your time and save yourself some grief! lol

I would not put any of those fish in yet at all. I would but 3-4 zebra or golden Danios they are tough and once they have been in for about 3 weeks get back to us will a full water parameters and then and only then decide which fish to put in first.

No mention of plants do you have any if not I would get some cheap floating plant like water sprite.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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JayBee-

By the way, welcome to fishprofiles... My apologies, I should've been more welcoming!

Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome Scott. Been here for a couple of years actually, only just got round to getting that aquarium I've wanted for so long.

To clarify a few points from above. I've had the tank set up for about 4 weeks now. Each day I put a little ammonia in, enough to bring the reading up to 2 or 4, and it reads 0 by the same evening. The nirites were at 25 at the weekend, but last couple of nights readings were zero, so they're being processed. The nirates read around 30, but then the tap water is that sort of level as well (if not higher). I have put in a nitrate specific sponge into the filter to try and keep these lower. I believe the plants are helping to keep these at a fairly stable level as well.

As for plants, I have a few. 3 bunches of caboma, 2 anubias, a few dwarf cryptos, 3 bunches of twisted vallis and a couple of bunches of stargrass.

I completely understand that fish are living things and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure they have a happy and pleasant life. And I have no intention of taking shortcuts. I just want to be as careful as possible at every step, hence the idea of using the hardiest of the choice of fish first.

Thanks for the advice all

Ooh, you did a proper fishless cycle, the one designed to allow you to fully stock a tank instantaneously. You should be golden, and I foresee no problems with moving fish over to the new tank cycled in this manner. Maybe you should keep a bacteria product on stand-by but you should be good.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Ya I agree with shini, now that we know your tank is fully cycled you should be fine, bacteria on hand can't hurt.

Plants will help some more than others. And out of the list I'd go with the barbs first to add as they do tend to be the hardiest.

Just stock each school slowly adding a few at a time to build the tank.

^_^

agreed... if your nitrites are reading 0 after having had some positive nitrite readings, you're good to go,a nd you should not have to worry about "hardiness" as much as compatibility between species.

What an exciting time! A freshly cycled tank, ready for fish! Do your homework on what works well together with regard to the various species.

Good luck!