can a 'dead' fish be used to cycle a tank? fishless cycling - Aquarium Advice

Bubble_Boy · 11-03-2004, 01:22 AM

i was wondering, can i use a dead fish to cycle a tank?

i want to do a fishless cycling..
but instead of using ammonia from the grocery store...

can i just use a dead fish???

Menagerie · 11-03-2004, 01:27 AM

You can use a piece of shrimp or a dead fish. There is an article on fishless cycling in the Articles Section. The article I am thinking of is in the [acronym:1cf2aaa27e="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:1cf2aaa27e] section, but it also applies to [acronym:1cf2aaa27e="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:1cf2aaa27e].

Pufferpunk · 11-03-2004, 10:57 AM

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want anything rotting in a tank I was going to put my nice, healthy fish in. What's wrong with a tried & true scientifically proven method of plain old ammonia? Much more controlled, [acronym:0bd4b8fda6="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:0bd4b8fda6].

FawnN · 11-03-2004, 11:15 AM

I would have to agree with Pufferpunk on that. I personally have never, nor will I ever cycle that way, but I'm sure you will need more then one fish, right?

revhtree · 11-03-2004, 11:20 AM

Thsi dead fish you are referring to, is not currently swimming around in your tank is he??

JK! I guess you could do it that way, but I would not, just seems kinda nasty.

hashbaz · 11-03-2004, 04:01 PM

While the idea is sort of creepy, I am a big fan of creative, inexpensive methods - especially when they are less work. I would guess that when using this method you would not have to be adding something to the tank every day like you do with ammonia.

If you do opt for this method I would suggest keeping a close eye on the water parameters just to make sure that everything is going according to plan. Good luck with whatever you choose!

FawnN · 11-03-2004, 05:17 PM

Ammonia is not expensive at all and your not adding it everyday. I bought a half gallon for 99 cents and I was able to cycle over 3 tanks with it and tossed out the rest.

I would be concerned that if you need more then one dead fish to cycle, where do you plan on getting it? And I personally think that anything decaying in your tank just causes other problems during your cycling.

jsoong · 11-03-2004, 06:00 PM

Rotting fish do create ammonia, so will cycle a tank. Someone on this board did a cycle using a dead shrimp a while back & she kept a log & posted it. As I recall, the biggest problem with her experience is that it STINKS! .... not just in the tank, but in the room, etc.

A lot of trouble to save a buck's worth of ammonia ... [acronym:eb01d78c57="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:eb01d78c57]...

and with the price of shrimp these day ... ammonia is prob. cheaper!

**An t-iasg** · 11-03-2004, 11:22 PM

It would work -- i.e., create ammonia to start the cycle. But I would be wary of how the fish died. Did it have a disease, parasite, etc.?

FawnN · 11-03-2004, 11:57 PM

Yeah, where exactly would you go for dead fish. Do you have them lying around in your freezer? Because when my fish die, I never think to myself, "self, I think I will throw you in the freezer so that I can use you to cycle my next tank."

Not trying to be rude at all, just curious.

11-03-2004, 01:22 AM	#1
Bubble_Boy Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 33	can a 'dead' fish be used to cycle a tank? fishless cycling i was wondering, can i use a dead fish to cycle a tank? i want to do a fishless cycling.. but instead of using ammonia from the grocery store... can i just use a dead fish???

11-03-2004, 01:27 AM	#2
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,246 Images: 77	You can use a piece of shrimp or a dead fish. There is an article on fishless cycling in the Articles Section. The article I am thinking of is in the [acronym:1cf2aaa27e="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:1cf2aaa27e] section, but it also applies to [acronym:1cf2aaa27e="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:1cf2aaa27e]. __________________

11-03-2004, 10:57 AM	#3
Pufferpunk Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 641 Images: 11	I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want anything rotting in a tank I was going to put my nice, healthy fish in. What's wrong with a tried & true scientifically proven method of plain old ammonia? Much more controlled, [acronym:0bd4b8fda6="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:0bd4b8fda6]. __________________ The Puffer Forum http://www.thepufferforum.org/ Pufferpunk's Tanks http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRe...ew&userID=1918

11-03-2004, 11:15 AM	#4
FawnN Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 978 Images: 19	I would have to agree with Pufferpunk on that. I personally have never, nor will I ever cycle that way, but I'm sure you will need more then one fish, right? __________________ Regards, Fawn

11-03-2004, 11:20 AM	#5
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	Thsi dead fish you are referring to, is not currently swimming around in your tank is he?? JK! I guess you could do it that way, but I would not, just seems kinda nasty. __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

11-03-2004, 04:01 PM	#6
hashbaz Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 745 Images: 1	While the idea is sort of creepy, I am a big fan of creative, inexpensive methods - especially when they are less work. I would guess that when using this method you would not have to be adding something to the tank every day like you do with ammonia. If you do opt for this method I would suggest keeping a close eye on the water parameters just to make sure that everything is going according to plan. Good luck with whatever you choose! __________________ link to 75 gallon planted 10 & 29 gal QT/nursery/undecided

11-03-2004, 05:17 PM	#7
FawnN Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 978 Images: 19	Ammonia is not expensive at all and your not adding it everyday. I bought a half gallon for 99 cents and I was able to cycle over 3 tanks with it and tossed out the rest. I would be concerned that if you need more then one dead fish to cycle, where do you plan on getting it? And I personally think that anything decaying in your tank just causes other problems during your cycling. __________________ Regards, Fawn

11-03-2004, 06:00 PM	#8
jsoong Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 1,641	Rotting fish do create ammonia, so will cycle a tank. Someone on this board did a cycle using a dead shrimp a while back & she kept a log & posted it. As I recall, the biggest problem with her experience is that it STINKS! .... not just in the tank, but in the room, etc. A lot of trouble to save a buck's worth of ammonia ... [acronym:eb01d78c57="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:eb01d78c57]... and with the price of shrimp these day ... ammonia is prob. cheaper! __________________ 75 gal FW with 30 gal DIY wet/dry/sump. 9 fancy golds, 1 hillstream loaches, 1 rubber-lip pleco (C. thomasi), 3 SAEs, planted.

11-03-2004, 11:22 PM	#9
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 7,157 Images: 30	It would work -- i.e., create ammonia to start the cycle. But I would be wary of how the fish died. Did it have a disease, parasite, etc.? __________________

11-03-2004, 11:57 PM	#10
FawnN Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 978 Images: 19	Yeah, where exactly would you go for dead fish. Do you have them lying around in your freezer? Because when my fish die, I never think to myself, "self, I think I will throw you in the freezer so that I can use you to cycle my next tank." Not trying to be rude at all, just curious. __________________ Regards, Fawn

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