supermazz9
Aquarium Advice Activist
I'd like to start off by saying that it's kinda disapointing that I don't see any rants in here about stuff folks have seen. Me likes a good rant.
That being said...so I get this magazine; Aquarium Fish International. I'm reading through, some stuff kind of interesting, and then I read it. A newly set-up aquarium has a limited capacity to support fish. Ohhh, I think to myself, I know where this is going. It goes on to a very short explanation of the cycle, adding that the most common mistake is to add fish to the aquarium before there are enough nitrifying bacteria present. Ok, I relax a little, I guess this is going to be ok...that wasn't exactly right, but it was half right and on the right track.
Oh, oh. .The problem is that the bacteria don't reproduce until there are waste products available, and there are no waste products available until there are fish in the aquarium
So, how do you get this cycle started? it asks, and I'm already thinking to myself, "no, no, please don't print what I know you're about to, " and then bang, there it is.
Many aquarists simply start with a few hardy fish and then add more over a number of weeks as the bacteria multiply. Make it stop! Several companies make proprietary concoctions of live bacteria and nutrients to not only get the cycle started but also to ensure that it goes as quickly as possible to safeguard the health of the first fish in the aquarium. When setting up a new aquarium, I'd consider one of these products, but they aren't essential to having a successful aquarium.
Nothing about that was right.
Geez. There are two types of people reading this.
a) like me, who are a little pissed right now, because they understand what they are reading.
b) someone who doesn't understand really what they're reading, are running out right now to buy a 30g tank, a dozen hardy looking fish (which likely aren't but sure are pretty looking) and a bottle of Cycle, because, well, that's what they're going to go through, right?
Not a hint of fishless cycle, going so far to suggest that most anyone who know's what they're doing is doing this crazy fish cycle.
Ahhhh...just had to get that off my chest.
That being said...so I get this magazine; Aquarium Fish International. I'm reading through, some stuff kind of interesting, and then I read it. A newly set-up aquarium has a limited capacity to support fish. Ohhh, I think to myself, I know where this is going. It goes on to a very short explanation of the cycle, adding that the most common mistake is to add fish to the aquarium before there are enough nitrifying bacteria present. Ok, I relax a little, I guess this is going to be ok...that wasn't exactly right, but it was half right and on the right track.
Oh, oh. .The problem is that the bacteria don't reproduce until there are waste products available, and there are no waste products available until there are fish in the aquarium
So, how do you get this cycle started? it asks, and I'm already thinking to myself, "no, no, please don't print what I know you're about to, " and then bang, there it is.
Many aquarists simply start with a few hardy fish and then add more over a number of weeks as the bacteria multiply. Make it stop! Several companies make proprietary concoctions of live bacteria and nutrients to not only get the cycle started but also to ensure that it goes as quickly as possible to safeguard the health of the first fish in the aquarium. When setting up a new aquarium, I'd consider one of these products, but they aren't essential to having a successful aquarium.
Nothing about that was right.
Geez. There are two types of people reading this.
a) like me, who are a little pissed right now, because they understand what they are reading.
b) someone who doesn't understand really what they're reading, are running out right now to buy a 30g tank, a dozen hardy looking fish (which likely aren't but sure are pretty looking) and a bottle of Cycle, because, well, that's what they're going to go through, right?
Not a hint of fishless cycle, going so far to suggest that most anyone who know's what they're doing is doing this crazy fish cycle.
Ahhhh...just had to get that off my chest.