Not Cycling Before Adding Fish

[GouramiFanatic]

I asked a friend who has successfully kept a few fish tanks in the past if he knew much about cycling a new tank before adding the first fish. He said that he never really did anything special before initially adding fish to his tanks. He said that he would just fill it up, put the plants and rocks in, and then just let it sit for about a week or so before adding his first living creatures. He said that I should be all set to add some Gouramis to my tank next Monday as I was originally planning to do prior to learning about this 'fishless cycling'. Before joining AA, I had no clue of this whole cycling procedure and now I'm more confused than ever because I don't know which way is the correct way to go.

I'll come right out and say that I'm a very impatient person. The thought of having to wait for several weeks before being able to put some fish in the tank is literally depressing me. At the same time, I really want to do this the correct way and I really want to do right by the fish (which is why I'd like to do the fishless cycle).

I guess what I'm wondering now is...

1. I've read that Gouramis are pretty hardy fish. Does that mean that they'd be ok to introduce in the tank without cycling it?

2. If I get Gouramis next Monday will that basically be giving them a death sentence?

3. If I get some of the BioSphere stuff how much faster will that speed up the cycle?

4. One of the large rock formations in the tank was used in a previous fish tank of a co-worker. I'm assuming that it still has some bacteria on it. Will this also help to speed up the cycle?

Please keep in mind that these are just questions and please don't give me lectures. I can't emphasize enough that I want to do right by the fish so I'm not going to just jump into this if it means that the fish will most certainly die. They're just geniune questions from a confused newbie who's trying to figure this whole new world of fish keeping out!

Thanks!
- Mandy

[Jchillin]

No lecture - During the initial stages of a tank set up, fish and food waste will produce toxic amounts of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. During this time, fishkeepers have successfully endured it with little fish deaths and some haven't been so lucky.

It is better to allow your tank to cycle to prevent this from occurring.

Keep in mind that this is only a recommendation. You will determine what you will do based on all information and research that you have done.

Bio-Spira, when used properly, is introduced to the tank at the same time you acclimate your fish. There have been many success stories regarding this method.

You say your friend has an established tank. You could cycle your tank quickly by utilizing some of the filter media, decorations and/or gravel from that tank if available.

[GouramiFanatic]

Thanks for the info! I never thought there would be so much to consider when starting and maintaining a fish tank. I have so much to learn!

Unfortunately my friend no longer has any fish tanks. He gave them up a couple of years ago because he didn't have the time to keep up with them so he won't be able to offer me anything good to use.

- Mandy

[RoK]

The rock won't have any of the bacteria on it if it hasn't been in water with fish for awhile. It dies without the ammonia created by fish.

I remember my early days of freshwater fishkeeping, back in the mid 1980s. It was not the "age of information" back then, and apart from checking out a few fish books from my school library I had NEVER heard of cycling. And yet I NEVER had a problem keeping fish back then, either. My first aquarium was a 20 gallon. I managed to get it all set up, threw in all the gravel I had not washed, filled it up with tap water I had not treated, popped over to the fish store and bought LOADS of fish, threw them all in, and off I went.

I had never heard of water changes. All I would do is top the tank off when evaporation took its share.

I can't tell you the number of times I would remove all the fish to an old bucket I got from the garage, tore down the entire tank, boiled the gravel, rocks and plastic plants, scrubbed the tank and filter thoroughly, and started from scratch.

Looking back now, I overfed those fish, too. WAY overfed.

Never heard of a test kit.

I also remember throwing in a few fish I caught from a nearby stream. "Sticklebacks" I think they were called (this was all in England).

Despite ALL of this, I had very few fish deaths. The only real deaths I remember came when my Pictus catfish grew large enough to start eating the small fishes.

Here I am 20 years later, armed with more knowledge than I ever needed and shaking my head at the tank I had a long time ago. I test my water regularly, do water changes, treat the water, carefully select the fishes I keep together. And you know what? I seem to have more fish deaths than I remember having before.

Maybe ignorance IS bliss. Who knows? You always hear those stories about people who never change or test their water, etc... I was one of those people.

[Fishyfanatic]

I was one of those people too. My first tank: 6th grade. Bought a tank from Wal-Mart. I got a little bag of gravel, tank, and off I went. I didn't even have a net, just grabbed them and tossed them in. They lasted for about a day. My little neon's never knew what hit them. I had never heard of having a light on a tank. Filter? What's that for? Test kit? Why, the tank looks good? Dechlorinator? What's that? Heater? It's warm enough, I think. Oh man oh man. I quickly gave up after they all died and put the tank in the garage for my pet turtle that came when I was a freshman in college. I caught the little guy in the garden one day. His Name: Murtle the Turtle.

The difference is you had deaths. I had almost none. I often wonder if the undergravel filter I had, which are now generally frowned upon, actually helped in some way. Exactly what way, I don't know, since it would've had zero time to establish itself.

[Fishyfanatic]

Yes, I did have many deaths. But, do you remember the times when we all drank from the garden hose during the summer? Now they say that it is toxic. Remember when cars werent sold with airbags or seatbelts? Do you remember taking drives on the weekends, sitting on the back of a truck? Oh has the time changed. Ok, I know, I was only born 20 years ago, but a lot has changed since back then. I guess ignorance is bliss. Then again, did they use all the chemicals in the water that they do now?

Well, might as well stray off-topic. Yes, I remember all those good-ol days. No airbags especially. We always had seatbelts... but never wore them. Child restraint laws? Whatever. We were always bouncing around the back of my parents' stationwagon wherever we went.

[Fishyfanatic]

Sorry for getting off topic Surgeon.