Cycling with goldfish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
What is this "different circumstances" you are talking about?
Why not just use liquid ammonia like always?

I'm sure a college student can easily afford a small bottle

You are a member since 2008. Even if you don't know comet goldfish require large tank, at least you should know how damaging ammonia can be to the fishes. Just because you can return the fish for money does it make it morally right to put it in suffering?
 
Hi Acura_RSX,
There are many bacteria culture liquids that will start your biological filtration without the need to use live fish as a substitute. It's all right now becuase your already using the Goldfish but they can suffer problems and diseases from it. It's best to use the liquids. The process will take around 2-6 weeks depending on your system. When cycled, add fish slowly and test your water regularly, sometimes fish tanks have a great way of changing their water chemistry!

I hope I've been of much help.
 
Acura_RSX said:
I think they will handle their own by taking the goldfish back for the 41 cents each .. I could just kill the goldfish but I'd rather bring them back to at least give them a chance
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Assuming the goldfish even live through the heavy ammonia and nitrite spikes that take place during a cycle. IMO that's not really giving them much of a chance.

But that aside, I've never heard any information about fish cycling with goldfish being any less effective than fish cycling with a tropical fish like guppies. Unless someones addressing that goldfish are pretty prone to infection/disease/etc. and that you might introduce such a thing to your tank while using them to cycle.
 
acura_rsx, Sorry that nobody who has replied so far has been very objective. As one person has said, gold fish do create a lot of ammonia, but that is fine. In fact you need that in order to start 'cycling' the tank which is the reason you purchased them in the first place. The best thing you can do, is do a water change on all your tanks in about two or three days once the amonia levels in the new tank starts to rise. after removing 20 to 30% of the water in the 'new' tank, refill it with the water from an established tank. This will introduce the beneficial bacteria to the new tank that will break down the amonia, and then nitrites into the end result, nitrates.
Keep a close eye on your water perameters for the first month or so, or however long it takes to get the tank set up. Ammonia will usually quickly convert to nitrite, and then your ammonia levels should stay right around 0. Nitrites usually take a bit longer, if you see the nitrite levels spike, reduce feeding to every other day or less, and do a good water change. Dont do drastic water changes though, cause you need the nitrites there to cultivate the proper bacteria. The fact that you have an established tank to donate bacteria should drastically reduce the cycling time for the new tank.... Hope this helps -Chris
 
Aaron Gomes said:
Hi Acura_RSX,
There are many bacteria culture liquids that will start your biological filtration without the need to use live fish as a substitute. It's all right now becuase your already using the Goldfish but they can suffer problems and diseases from it. It's best to use the liquids. The process will take around 2-6 weeks depending on your system. When cycled, add fish slowly and test your water regularly, sometimes fish tanks have a great way of changing their water chemistry!

I hope I've been of much help.
Click to expand...

The tank will never cycle if no ammonia is added. Bacterias are of no utility without fish or ammonia.
 
Mr.NiceGuy said:
acura_rsx, Sorry that nobody who has replied so far has been very objective. As one person has said, gold fish do create a lot of ammonia, but that is fine. In fact you need that in order to start 'cycling' the tank which is the reason you purchased them in the first place. The best thing you can do, is do a water change on all your tanks in about two or three days once the amonia levels in the new tank starts to rise. after removing 20 to 30% of the water in the 'new' tank, refill it with the water from an established tank. This will introduce the beneficial bacteria to the new tank that will break down the amonia, and then nitrites into the end result, nitrates.
Keep a close eye on your water perameters for the first month or so, or however long it takes to get the tank set up. Ammonia will usually quickly convert to nitrite, and then your ammonia levels should stay right around 0. Nitrites usually take a bit longer, if you see the nitrite levels spike, reduce feeding to every other day or less, and do a good water change. Dont do drastic water changes though, cause you need the nitrites there to cultivate the proper bacteria. The fact that you have an established tank to donate bacteria should drastically reduce the cycling time for the new tank.... Hope this helps -Chris
Click to expand...

The OP knows what cycling is.
 
Mr.NiceGuy said:
acura_rsx, Sorry that nobody who has replied so far has been very objective. As one person has said, gold fish do create a lot of ammonia, but that is fine. In fact you need that in order to start 'cycling' the tank which is the reason you purchased them in the first place. The best thing you can do, is do a water change on all your tanks in about two or three days once the amonia levels in the new tank starts to rise. after removing 20 to 30% of the water in the 'new' tank, refill it with the water from an established tank. This will introduce the beneficial bacteria to the new tank that will break down the amonia, and then nitrites into the end result, nitrates.
Keep a close eye on your water perameters for the first month or so, or however long it takes to get the tank set up. Ammonia will usually quickly convert to nitrite, and then your ammonia levels should stay right around 0. Nitrites usually take a bit longer, if you see the nitrite levels spike, reduce feeding to every other day or less, and do a good water change. Dont do drastic water changes though, cause you need the nitrites there to cultivate the proper bacteria. The fact that you have an established tank to donate bacteria should drastically reduce the cycling time for the new tank.... Hope this helps -Chris
Click to expand...

Read again
Liquid ammonia is a good alternative and is so much more concentrated than what goldfish produce
 Pointless, the only thing you will be introducing is nitrates...
Bacteria establish on surfaces such as tank walls, substrate, filter media.
He knows what is cycling
 
Not sure what the question about cycling with goldfish would be, pretty simple procedure. Could you post the info that shows that goldfish are bad to use for cycling with fish?
 
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