Cycle my tank with minnows?

[JimmyJBBPJMT]

I just set up a 55gal tank for cichlids. It has four bunches of anacharis already and I'm using filter media from my 75gal tank. Will buying feeder minnows work for the cycle and how many should I get?


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[drewbiezy]

As long as the tank is empty (void of fish) its better to cycle with either pure ammonia or by allowing raw shrimp to somewhat rot in the tank. But to answer your question directly minnows can be used to cycle but you can end up with a mini cycle which will be ceased and forced to start over again once the fish load and type are changed. But if you were "I would say around ten to fifteen minnows would do." I did this method so dont take me wrong but I have a one fish 40b species tank so the cycling rules were a tad bit different

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[Daonni]

The media from the 75 might be enough. I would get danios (tough bastards) but if you have minnows use those.
You have a test kit i assume?

You won't need many just a couple few.

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[duanes]

The problem with minnows, is they can harbor diseases or parasites that may infect your cichlids when they finally end up in the tank.

 

[Wrightt3]

This is more of an ethical issue than a case of whether or not it will work. Yes, you can cycle a tank with minnows but that doesn't mean you should. The ammonia that the fish is exposed to during the cycling process can potentially be detrimental to the fish's health and possibly even cause death. True they are only feeder fish but that doesn't make it any more acceptable IMO.