FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I am starting a 55 gallon FOWLR tank. It will eventually become a Reef Tank but that is a while off. What is a good hardy fish for cycling a SW tank? I know that danios are great for this in FW, so I guesswhat I need to know is.... What would you say the danio of the SW world is?



Christina

What would you say the danio of the SW world is?

Live rock

Live rock will harbor all the bacteria on it that you need to "cycle" the tank. If you buy uncured live rock then you will get quite a bit of die off on the rock because of the long journey it has been on to get to you/your lfs. The die off will increase the ammonia thus beginning your cycle.

If you get cured live rock, you will probably still have some die off depending on how far you live from the lfs.....I would add a raw cocktail shrimp to a pair of pantyhose (new ones ) and let it sit in the tank for a good while until you get an ammonia spike...It may take a couple of cocktail shrimp to get the ammonia spike to show...then you are off cycling

Live rock is the easiest and best way to cycle a SW tank...almost all SW fish are wild caught so it only makes sense to not shorten their lives and put them thru the stress of the cycle....especially when its not needed

Ill post the story of how I got lucky on my stocking list here in just a bit on the other thread....

i was told to use damsels. THey see to be working with my live rock

There is no reason to use a live fish when live rock does what you need it to do.

Also using damsels (AKA hell fish) to cycle a large tank while cheap.....only results in taking all the rock to catch them when the tank is cycled.

Live rock or a raw cocktail shrimp is all you need to cycle a SW tank.

live rock cycles best.

why stress a fish when you can avoid it? plus if you did fish first then did uncured live rock you would get a spike when you add therefore exposing them twice to high ammonia/nitrites.

Agreed.

I think that a better use of the damsel is as a test fish, once you've already been cycling.

In my tank, after I let my live rock sit for...oh, idk...maybe a couple weeks, the first fish I brought home were blue/green reef chromis and an ORA false perc, just to keep my confidence up.

Live rock works great because of the dieoff you'll get, especially if it's uncured.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I don't know why the LR didn't click in my head... I will definitely use that for my cycler.



Christina