cheap sensative fish

[Newt]

Cardinal tetras, neon tetras, rummy nose tetras.

The rummy nose tetras will lose their red nose if something is off in the water before they die, so they are a good indicator of water quality.

 

[Headrush]

OK I guess I'm gonna be the bad guy and ask why the heck you'd want to go through fish to see if your water is ok when you could use a fairly reliable test kit and keep your fish in good water all the time?

Did I miss something?

 

[santoury]

I checked - I don't think you missed anything. I think he likes having a canary in his coal mine.

 

[unknownuza13]

OK I guess I'm gonna be the bad guy and ask why the heck you'd want to go through fish to see if your water is ok when you could use a fairly reliable test kit and keep your fish in good water all the time?

Did I miss something?

I thought the same thing. In his defense even though I own three different test kits I had a school of convicts, tiger barbs, and neons living in my 240 for a few weeks before I added the "expensive" fish.

 

[nukeman]

neon tetras are the way to go for sure.

 

[softturtle]

rummynoses

I agree.

 

[merc123]

I use the cheap fish to help cycle the tank but the intent was never to "kill" them off. I still have my original tetras I used to cycle my 36 gallon. I just don't see the need to have a "canary in the a coal mine" theory on this stuff. By the time the fish die it may be too late to do anything anyway.

 

[santoury]

Well... that is exactly what you were askng for.

Cheap fish for cycling are much different.

 

[wangster11235]

i will be using them to cycle my newest tank also.
i do water changes ever 1-2 weeks depending on my tank, i just want something in there that will show if something just spiked in my tank and to change it right away

 

[merc123]

i will be using them to cycle my newest tank also.
i do water changes ever 1-2 weeks depending on my tank, i just want something in there that will show if something just spiked in my tank and to change it right away

I'd still say no matter how sensitive, by the time you see it or realize it's water it'll be too late. What's the first thing you're going to do when you see the fish die? Test the water right? Do it weekly and you've solved your problem.

You could just use Live NH3 ammonia monitors or Live pH monitors for as little as $6 and they last about 3-4 weeks. Some say they aren't accuate and will read higher, but hey that's what you want right? It'll give you a false high reading and you can get alerted to check the water.

I'd say it's easier than getting sensitive fish. How would you like it if we put you on Mars with half an oxygen tank and told you to let us know when it gets toxic (i.e. you die)