Cycle with or without fish?

[rk4435]

I know I am running the risk of starting World War III with this question. I am ready to move my 90 gallon set up in from the garage. I am purchasing 20 pounds of live rock from someone local that is getting out and adding about 20 pounds of my current established rock from my two tanks.

My plan is to cycle and then add the remaining rock and livestock.

What are the benefits of cycling with and without inexpensive fish? I do not recall ever losing a fish cycling freshwater or my current sw set ups but I have read that some say it is inhumane.

 

[bycjoe]

The organic compounds you need to build up for the bacteria to grow are poisonous to fish, considering it can be done without fish(probably most of us have) I don't see any reason to either stress nor injure a fish in this process. Your live rock may have enough nitrifying bacteria or it may not, if your testing it often you can change the water to avoid a huge build up but your also reducing the ammount of bacteria that will grow.

 

[bycjoe]

I used 43lbs of cured live rock and added plenty of food, the cycle was quick but still noticeable, although my levels probably wouldn't have killed a fish, it could have potentially hurt one. Just a thought.

 

[bycjoe]

But also if your rocks in a tank with a equal or greater bioload and your confident it's good I don't see moving it into a new tank any different than moving an existing tank or upgrading

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

rk4435;884903 wrote: I know I am running the risk of starting World War III with this question. I am ready to move my 90 gallon set up in from the garage. I am purchasing 20 pounds of live rock from someone local that is getting out and adding about 20 pounds of my current established rock from my two tanks.

My plan is to cycle and then add the remaining rock and livestock.

What are the benefits of cycling with and without inexpensive fish? I do not recall ever losing a fish cycling freshwater or my current sw set ups but I have read that some say it is inhumane.

I did a "search" here at ARC with [cycle tank] in search box. Here are a few posts that came up:

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=79909&highlight=cycle+tank"><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="color: #0563c1">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=79909&highlight=cycle+tank</span></span></a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80934&highlight=cycle+tank"><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="color: #0563c1">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80934&highlight=cycle+tank</span></span></a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81582&highlight=tank+cycle"><span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="color: #0563c1">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81582&highlight=tank+cycle</span></span></a>

I'm not sure if you are aware of the search box near the top right hand side of ARC. I'm not sure if you have previously read these posts; so I listed a couple here. One of the above posts has some great fundamentals of checking water parameters with pictures of results next to colored reference chart; a must see for beginners.

I hope this info is helpful.

Wannabee

 

[heathlindner25]

if you're setting up a 90 gallon with 40 pounds of live rock I doubt you even see a cycle

 

[rk4435]

Thanks for the feedback, the links were very helpful, especially the patience part.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

rk4435;884928 wrote: Thanks for the feedback, the links were very helpful, especially the patience part.

There are many other links under the "search" part of ARC. If you place [cycle tank] in search box and then place [cycle tank] in the next screen after the "search" screen; all the posts related to [cycle tank] will come up. All you have to do is double click on one of the posts to read the available information.

I hope this information is helpful. The [search box] can save you a lot of valuable time when you are researching for a specific topic you have a question about.

Wannabee

 

[jdavid]

Telling people to UTSE on ARC is not incredibly helpful. The search engine is mediocre,and often excludes the important words because they are too small or common, or numbers.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

JDavid;884969 wrote: Telling people to UTSE on ARC is not incredibly helpful. The search engine is mediocre,and often excludes the important words because they are too small or common, or numbers.

It worked here. Person found my search an effective tool here. I have no problems with the search engine. This is not Galileo or Google, this is ARC.

Wannabee