cycling 20 gallon tank with 2 angelfish

[in_denial]

I set up a 20 gallon the other day. I asked my wife to pick up 2 cheap fish to cycle the tank. I was expecting two guppies or goldfish. She brings home two angelfish. My wife means well. I come home today and find the one stuck to the inlet tube on the filter and the other laying on the bottom. There goes $7 down the drain. I was adding a product called biozyme. The NH3 and NH4 levels are 0. I'm not sure why they died.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi in_denial

Welcome to the forum!

I've moved your thread to the beginners section because you are more likely to get the help you need there than in Newbies.

Why don't you ask your wife to join the forum too. Fishkeeping is a great hobby for family members to share, and if she joins she will come to understand what it's all about and be able to help you with it.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I set up a 20 gallon the other day. I asked my wife to pick up 2 cheap fish to cycle the tank. I was expecting two guppies or goldfish. She brings home two angelfish. My wife means well. I come home today and find the one stuck to the inlet tube on the filter and the other laying on the bottom. There goes $7 down the drain. I was adding a product called biozyme. The NH3 and NH4 levels are 0. I'm not sure why they died.

*pat, pat* that's rough... well, hopefully she learned from the experience.

those "cycle" products typically do nothing to speed the process. the beneficial bacteria cultivated during cycling require oxygen to live and thus cannot be bottled for extensive periods of time. you'll just have to be paitient.

what size tank have you got? maybe we can recommend some good fish for cycling it. (not goldfish unless you're going to return them or have a coldwater tank)

 

[Blue Lobster]

Sorry to hear it, angels need an established tank, and a big one at that, bigger than a 20 gallon to grow fully.


If you local fish store is a good one, ask them if they have a matured Bio-ball they could give/ sell you to kick start your tank.

 

[in_denial]

Thanks for the tip. I will ask the pet shop for a bio ball. Is this a piece of their filter media or is it a packaged product? My tank is a 20 gallon long. Should i try again with guppies?

 

[jimw13uk]

If your in the states then there is a product called Bio-Spyra and that is supposed to be "the dogs doodads" for helping get a new tank set up and cycled. I've never used it (UK) as we dont get it over here (or i've never seen it) - but I have heard people say that the tank is setup and fish friendly in days rather than weeks

I know I will get shot down for the above but thats the reports on this stuff and as I say its not 1st hand experience but check it out through google and www.cichlid-forum.com and you see the number of people who rave over it

 

[in_denial]

I've read about the bio spira on other links. I did a search on google and found the manufacturers website. I could not locate any retailers selling it. Aparently the stuff must stay refrigerated. If anyone knows of a large retailer that sells this stuff, please advise.

Thanks

 

[parker313]

What fish do you eventually want to keep in your tank? That will go a long way in determining what fish you choose to cycle with.

 

[in_denial]

I plan on keeping various tetras in the tank.

 

[jimw13uk]

search for bio spira in www.cichlid-forum.com - there is a thread in there about it with a list of stockists in the states

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I plan on keeping various tetras in the tank.

do you like tiger barbs? they're reportedly quite hardy.

the vast majority of tetras available commonly in the trade are good hardy fish. if you know for certain exactly what you want to start with, let us know. odds are good that you could start cycling with just 3 of that.

but ask first. there are exceptions, you know.

 

[in_denial]

I like barbs. My Neighbor has tinfoil barbs and they are huge. I dont think they would do well in my 20 gallon. He has a 125 gallon tank. They reason I like the tetras is that they seem to be really mellow and I think my kids will like looking at them.

I will check those threads for the bio spira. I live in PA.

 

[in_denial]

Thanks for the link JimW13. Here's an online site that sells bio spira

http/www.fishstoretn.com

 

[taylorhedrich]

Sorry to hear it, angels need an established tank, and a big one at that, bigger than a 20 gallon to grow fully.

Yeah, but aren't angels slow growers? In my experience with them they have always grown slow, so therefore, when you do get your tank cycled, you may want to keep a few for a little while.
~Taylor~

 

[taylorhedrich]

I'd also like to add that if you want to buy bio-spira, plan on paying top dollar for it. I know a guy that paid 20 bucks for a bottle of it. I'm not sure how large the bottle was, but that seems like a lot of money to me. Patience can pay off!!!
~Taylor~