whats the earliest you can add a fish to a tank?

S

Swiftless

New member
i know all about the cycling process that needs to be done but i heard goldfish make great cycling fish. Do they live if you use them as cycling fish or will they die? Just cause they make good cycling fish doesnt mean they will live. And What is the earliest you should add them to the tank to help it cycle? I ask because i got a gold fish to cycle my tank with and it died after one day. IT might have been from shock of being in a small tank into such a bigger one.
 
Goldfish are a bad way to cycle. While I do occasionally use fish for cycling, it really is an old method that shouldn't be used. It puts fish in stress and often most of the fish used will die. Using cheap "feeder" fish doesn't make it any better.

the best way to cycle a tank is to get some filter media from someones tank that has been running for more than 6 months. Wait a couple of days then add 1 or 2 small fish per 10 gallons. This way, the ammonia output from the fish is small enough where the bacteria on the old media can convert it to nitrites and then to nitrates easily enough. Cycling a tank is the buildup of beneficial bacteria that breakdown toxins such as ammonia.

Each week you begin to add more fish (always start with the hardiest fish that you plan on keeping, saving more sensitive fish for last). Slowing stocking your tank over a period of 2 months or more is the safest.
 
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