With Fish Cycling!

[KirkyArcher]

Does anyone do it anymore? I've cycled my two current tanks with fish (that's how it was done the last time I kept fish, it was the advice of the LFS) and have never lost a fish during cycling, all have been very lively and colourful throughout.

 

[Mikey1]

it can be done with lots of water changes and hardy fish,
 
however, ammonia and chlorine can have long term negative effects on your fish in the future, so just because they look lively and healthy, that doesn't mean they really are,
 
think of it this way, i can smoke cigarettes every day of my life for 30 years and look lively and healthy, then my life could be cut short by 15 years because i die of lung cancer.....make sense?

 

[JenJ]

I did, back when I started out last summer.
 
To be honest though it does tend to be frowned upon on here, as we cannot know for sure the long term effects on the fish of being exposed to the toxicity of ammonia and nitrite. 
 
My compromise, as a beginner who had done a little but not a lot of background reading, was to do daily 70-80% water changes, for as long as it took to get the ammonia and nitrite readings to 0. Seeing that 0 was a very big reward after my 2 months or so!
 
New tanks since then I've used existing media and usually transferred stock from old tanks rather than bought new, which have then had desired readings pretty much immediately.

 

[DyArianna]

I also started with a fish in cycle. And NOT hardy fish to boot. LFS suggestions or should I say approval all around. 10 gallon uncycled tank with 2 african dwarf frogs and 2 bala sharks. Lost the frogs quite quickly and then the bala sharks from Ich (even with treatment). I kept the tank going and retried with my livebearers (guppies and mollies) and had success. But by that time, the tank was pretty much cycled. Since, I have transferred media. And everyone is chugging along. I honestly don't know if I would have the patience for a fishless cycle but I know I wouldn't do it again without transsferring media.