Do You Cycle with Fish or Without Fish?

[Pugwinkle]

I am just curious what method everyone has used to cycle their tanks.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I have ever knowingly cycled a tank (was a very stupid beginner ) but I suppose it would be with fish because of that!

 

[Spat_si]

I cycled a 10 gal with 2 Zebra Danios and cycling a 55 gal without fish. All in all I like fishless cycle a lot better.

 

[chewEboy]

I cant cycle wit fish cos I keep spilling the water

 

[guppymonkey]

Its a lot easier to cycle without fish. It just takes longer and its so hard to have a fish tank without any fish in it. I had such a hard time not buying fish for my 55 gallon tank when it was cycling. Especially when people would ask "Why is that tank empty?"

 

[drobbins27]

I cycle with fish...very carefully tho

 

[jaywings19]

Its a lot easier to cycle without fish. It just takes longer and its so hard to have a fish tank without any fish in it. I had such a hard time not buying fish for my 55 gallon tank when it was cycling. Especially when people would ask "Why is that tank empty?"

I'm so glad to hear somebody else say that. I've been cycling my 72G tank for 10 days now. I'm tempted to slap the next person that asks why I have an empty tank. This is the most frustrating feeling in the world... having a huge EMPTY tank that you can't stock because it's filled with ammonia.

I sure hope that I get comparable joy when this tank is cycled. That will make up for this "waiting."

 

[Adrinal]

Without!

 

[noop]

couldn't find any pure ammonia anywhere so had to cycle with fish (6 zebra danios in a 30 gallon)

 

[HeatherSweetness]

I always cycled with gups,when I joined here I found that danios are much hardier and tougher so the next tank is danio cycling.

 

[chewEboy]

I cycle with fish...very carefully tho

I fnd it helps if U strap them in with little helmets

 

[Inchworm]

I cycle with fish...very carefully tho

I fnd it helps if U strap them in with little helmets

_______
I've always used fish to cycle my tanks.

 

[bodasafa]

i cycle with all kinds of fish hardy ones like tiger barbs daneos platys like mickey mouse moons and other hardy speceis

 

[Bol]

With.

My first tank, I used BioSpira.
Now, I have established gravel/filter media/plants available.

 

[modernhamlet]

Fishless. Took just less than 3 weeks. My fish have been healthy and colorful since day 1. Yay!