What? The nitrogen cycle is imperative to comprehend to be a fish keeper. People occasional still cycle tanks with live fish, but they are almost always rediculusly cheap fish like white cloud minnows where the fishkeeper FULLY EXPECTS TO LOSE these fish, and is just an added "gift" if any of them happen by chance to survive.
You do NOT understand the cycle. Simply put, one type of bacteria consumes ammonia (Fish Waste that is extremely lethal to the fish, and is like you living in your own urine if you can imagine!) and convert that lethal compound into Nitrites. Unfortunatly Nitrites are also lethal to fish. A second (different) bacteria then consumes the Nitrites and converts them to far less dangerous Nitrates. It is only when a large buildup of Nitrates occurs that the fish are in serious danger. This is the PURPOSE of doing water changes. Simple.
1. You have ZERO ammonia and ZERO of EITHER type of benneficial bacteria when you fill your tank and add the fish. No cycle can possibly happen!
2. As your fish eat and expel waste they will begin to produce the ammonia that you require to BEGIN building your first bacteria colony. Small enough quantities of ammonia NOT enough to damage your fish is NOT enough to build the bacteria required for a cycled fishtank! The main point of fishless cycling is that we achieve this extremely high level of ammonia (that no fish can live in) in a matter of seconds by adding bottled ammonia.
3. Nitrites follow the same rule as ammonia. You have no chance of building a strong enough bacteria colony to cycle your tank until you achieve a high enough level of Nitrites to kill your fish!
4. The daily water change will work even better than perfect tank cycling, so have at it. What you need to keep in mind that you have locked yourself into donig this daily water change for the rest of your hobby life. Bet you burn out quick and go to allowing the nitrogen cycle to take the place of your daily addiction to water changes!
