Fishless Cycling And Goldfish

[RandomWiktor]

Ok. I first want to thank everyone who helped suggest filtration options; I now have a very nice canister filter that meets my needs. However, with filtration comes.... eeep... cycling. Something I've not done before (I was uneducated when I bought these guys, and have paid the price of needing to do a whole lot of water changes!). I intend on doing a fishless cycled, because I'll be darned if I'm going to spend this much money on these two fish just to have them die of ammonia poisoning. I've got a ton of literature on the subject, and will be kicking off the cycle hopefully by monday.
I do have a question, however. Most of what I've read says to gradually introduce fish a few at a time. However, I'm guessing this info is regarding tropical fish, which are a whole lot smaller and less messy than... y'know... two 6-7inch common goldfish. So, my question is, should I only add one goldfish at a time, then wait for the tank to stabalize? Will they stop being "buddies" if I split them up during this time? Would it be wiser to add the bigger or smaller of the two first if I do have to split them up? Or would it be fine to just add both so long as I keep a close eye on things?
Any info regarding this would be wonderful. Thanks in advance!

 

[black angel]

If you can, try and run the new filter in the old tank or a tropical tank if you have one as this will get the cycle of your filter done in around 3 weeks.
If you cant do that add some old gravel under where the filter will sit and get some of the old media from a used filter and add it to the new one to get the same effect. You can add one fish but this isnt a fishless cycle and instead you can use flakes fed in to the intake tube until your ammonia level peaks and once the nitrite starts to go down add one fish for around a week to make sure the filter can cope with the ammonia and once that happens add the other. It doesnt matter which one you add first but maybe the healthier looking of the two and make sure you keep a record of your ammonia and nitrites. If for any reason you get a nitrite spike after you add the fish use aquarium salt to help them through it at 1 level teaspoon per gallon twice 12 hours apart.

Hope that helps

 

[RandomWiktor]

Oh - I think I didn't word my question well. I intend on doing a fishless cycle; I've read on it and know what steps I need to take to start bacterial growth and how to determine when the tank is cycled.
My question was, when the tank is completely cycled, how should I add the fish themselves? I wasn't sure if adding them both would cause an ammonia spike since the bacteria might not be able to handle a sudden influx of giant pooping fish. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[black angel]

Sorry, maybe i didnt read it right

anyhoo, i would still go with one at a time and if you dont get an ammonia spike after 3 days then add the other but watch your levels closely.