Pro's And Con's Of Fishless Cycling?

[Mr.September15]

I was wondering what are the pro's and con's of fishless cycling Vs. Cycling with fish? I don't really know why people are encouraging fishless cycling so much so please state some pro's and Con's of Fishless cycling and Cycling with fish please.

-Arrowhead.

 

[rdd1952]

I guess I'll start. First and foremost, it's simply better for the fish. They aren't exposed to toxic ammonia and nitrite that can stress them, cause diseases and even kill them. They need good clean water without toxins to flourish and show their true colors. Some fish such as danios, red-eye tetras, etc are very hardy and can make it through the cycliing process but they still suffer.

Second, it is quicker and much easier to do a fishless cycle. With a fishless cycle, you add ammonia and do tests. You usually won't have to do a water change for 2 to 4 weeks and you don't have to worry about your fish dying. When you cycle with fish, you will be doing constant (daily in most cases) water changes to keep the toxins (ammonia and nitrite) at minimal levels. And then once the ammonia and nitrite finally does drop to 0, you will still only be cycled for the fish you have in the tank. Adding more will result in a mini cycle and you are back to daily water changes.

The only upside to cycling with fish is a selfish one and that is you get to see your fish (at least until they die). This is a great hobby but it requires patience. If you can't be patient enough to do a fishless cyle, you may have problems keeping you fish happy and healthy. Incidentally, there is a link in my signature to my cycling thread.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but you asked.

 

[Ethos]

Second, it is quicker and much easier to do a fishless cycle.

I've never done anything and I've never had a "cycling fish" die on me, not even once. It is my prefered methoid of choice for begginers.

It is not easier, because all you need to do is add hardy fish and do a water change every day. My fishy cycles have lasted only 3 weeks at the latest, while many fishless cyclings take up to 2 months!

All this in MHO.

 

[rdd1952]

Second, it is quicker and much easier to do a fishless cycle.

It is not easier, because all you need to do is add hardy fish and do a water change every day.

That is precisely my point. It's a LOT easier to not do any water changes for 3 weeks than it is to do them daily for 3 weeks.

My fishy cycles have lasted only 3 weeks at the latest, while many fishless cyclings take up to 2 months!

All this in MHO.

My longest fishless cycle (on my 75 gallon without seeding it) lasted 3 weeks. The first tank, which we cycled with fish (as a total newbie) took almost 3 months before I finally got all my fish in it and had no ammonia or nitrite present. As with you though, this (and the original post) are MHO also. That's what makes this world great. We can agree to disagree.

 

[Mr.September15]

Yeah. That's what I thought. I never really did a fishless cycle. I tend to do more fish cycling because it will get me used to do water changes every week... But I just try a fishless cycle.

-Arowhead.

 

[dwarfgourami]

My fishless cycles took 10 and 14 days respectively; all I had to do was drop in a bit of ammonia every day. Easy peasy.

One selfish advantage was that I was not restricted to a few hardy fish, but could get the corys I wanted straightaway without taking up tank space on something I did not want.

I can't help feeling that cases where fishless cycles take up to 3 months must be due to some mistake (like somebody did a water changer in the middle in one recent thread). And Ethos, have you never heard of other people's fishy cycles also going pearshaped and taking a long time?

I have noticed that the people who say fishless cycling is difficult are usually the ones who have not tried it (sorry if this does not apply to you Ethos). I have tried both methods and am never going back to cycling with fish.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Also, after fishless cycling, you can normally stock either all the fish or a lot of them straight away. Mine only took a week on both tanks, in fact all I did on the 20g was dumpa hell load of bloodworms, food etc. in and leave it for a week. Although I'm not reccomending that

 

[kris-b-]

When performing a cycle with fish when you first place them in your aquarium, there will be absolutely no bacteria within the tank to break down ammonia, meaning the fish will be swimming in water which will have gradually increasing levels of ammonia (hence the daily water changes). This may not appear to affect the fish to you but how do you know how much ammonia has gone through the fishes internal system and what effect this is doing to your fish whether they are the hardiest fish around?
And plus once you complete your fishless cycle, if you have performed it with the bio load you had in mind of the fish you were planning on keeping, you can put the fish in all at once and not gradually.

If you have to add fish gradually most people will not do this gradually enough and by placing a huge bio load in at once with not enough bacteria to break down ammonia and nitrite will lead to diseases in your fish, if they don't die!

 

[peegee]

Hi. I got my first tank back in August, I'm ashamed to say I didn't research(I found this great site later) and just followed what the pet store told me.I did a fish cycle with mollies and platys, they survived happily but i wasn't told how prolific breeders they were! lol Had I know this and all the other info I've got from this site, I would have done things differently. The tank is now stable but very overstocked, I have to keep very close watch on the water quality. About a month ago, I bought a larger second hand tank so i could split the males and females up, i did a fishless cycle and it took me 14 days to complete the cycle, the hardest thing was getting the ammonia. I did a huge water change this weekend and got some Angels as I read here that they are good for controlling fry numbers.
In future I would always go for the fishless cycle, you can use the time to plan what fish you actually want not what is hardiest to survive a cycling tank.
By the way, thankyou to every one who posts information on here, I've learned a great deal but still got a way to go yet!

 

[Ethos]

That's what makes this world great. We can agree to disagree.

Yes.

I think this debate will never end, as along as we always have free will on some leavel.

 

[Notsofab]

I can't comment on the plus side of fishless cycling, as unfortunately I was impatiant, stupid and desperately wanted fish. I also fell foul of my LFS bad advice.

We are now in to our 7th week of cycling with fish. Our Ammonia levels are 0 but our Nitrites are off the chart still. We have been doing daily, sometimes twice daily water changes for 7 weeks. Trust me, it is no fun, takes up a hell of a lot of time and has cost me nearly £45 in dechlorinator. We have also seen 5 fish die during this time.

Let me tell you, cycling with fish was the BIGGEST mistake I could ever have made. In fact it has soured our first experiences of fishkeeping so much that if we lose the fish we have before the tank is cycled, then we will be emptying it and giving up.

PLEASE, do not cycle with fish. It won't only be the fish you harm, you will also spoil your own enjoyment of the hobby!

 

[rdd1952]

In fact it has soured our first experiences of fishkeeping so much that if we lose the fish we have before the tank is cycled, then we will be emptying it and giving up.

I hope it works out for you but please don't give up. If you lose the fish you have, go through a fishless cycle (you already have some bacteria present so it shouldn't take too long). We all have our trials. I must say I have been extremely lucky that I haven't had to deal with ich or any other diseases yet (knock on wood). I have lost some fish for unexplainable reasons and it is very frustrating. The closest I have come to throwing up my hands and quiting is because of a MAJOR blue green algae outbreak that drove me crazy. I finally got that under control though. Anyway, keep on plugging. It will work out.

 

[Ethos]

Let me tell you, cycling with fish was the BIGGEST mistake I could ever have made. In fact it has soured our first experiences of fishkeeping so much that if we lose the fish we have before the tank is cycled, then we will be emptying it and giving up.

PLEASE, do not cycle with fish. It won't only be the fish you harm, you will also spoil your own enjoyment of the hobby!

Well, when people say stuff like this, it makes me wonder why its always gone so good for me?
Hmhmhm.....
I guess I'm going to keep going my way, atleast with smaller tanks.
when I get a tank over 60G's I'm going to do a fishless cycling, because fish'll cost alot, just to cycle.
but untill then, or atleast untill I have a foul time with fish cycling, I'm going to continue using fish to cycle.