I don't think it's a question of what is safer. Letting fish stay in the wild is safer, sort of (that's another pot to stir). Again, safety isn't an issue if you know what you are doing, so why even bring it up? It'd be different if this were some really difficult process, but it's really not, and fish-in cycling if done right can be maintained with very minimal work, sometimes less than what people do for fishless cycles. It takes just as much understanding/research to learn how to do a fishless cycle as it does to do a proper fish-in cycle, so what's the difference?
The fact is that most people get into fishkeeping via fish-in cycle, so rather than chastise them on a high horse it's much better to teach them how to manage their issue at hand.
And there aren't many people out there that would choose to stare at an empty tank for a month when they could just as easily be enjoying some fish. Fear goes away with knowledge.
Ive stated from the beginning that fishin can be done 'safely' in the right hands and by safely i mean without causing death. Leaving fishin cycles to the experienced and recommending a safer alternative to new keepers was another strong point i was pushing along with the simple notion that fishless is a safer method.
See i disagree with almost everything youve said in this post. So where to start..the top.
Keeping fish in a tank is safer but about it being fair is questionable. Of course safer is an issue to be raised when it comes to fishless cycling!? I dont point fingers at individuals and im speaking of the whole shaaabang of recommending a fishin cycle to the inexperienced.
You mention It would be different if it was a complicated task, well that reflects on both forms of cycling a tank. You also say fishless is more work than a fishin which is just ridiculous and completely false as its the other way round with alittle info along the way. Depending on the parameters of the water in question, water changes can be avoided altogether in a fishless cycle where fishin is essential.
You also say that you need the same type of teaching and knowledge to preform a fishin cycle which isnt true either. A fishless cycle actually promotes teaching and knowledge to the person carrying out the task. They learn and understand the chemistry of individual elements in the aquarium and have to to know them to know when the cycle is complete. The fishin doesnt require you to learn a thing as Fishin cycling can be done by simply carring out regular water changes without ever truly understand the simple but imperitive chemistry behind it. And should be pushed to the inexperienced as we know we're actually teaching them something of huge importance because 'fear goes away with knowledge' like you say. Its one of the most simple, basic but most important things to understand in fish keeping period.
I dont have a horse i have sweaty donkey called mugling and he gets grumpy if i climb on him. Seriously though, not everyone pushing fishless has arragance fueling it. Infact i would bet most would say they care more about the fish than the person theyre preaching it to.
Ill touch on one last thing, ''its much better to teach them to manage the issue at hand'' yes jockey, it is and can agree with you here but im also affraid its a reinforcment to my opinions also.
When someone asks about cycling, recommending fishless cycling should come 1st as its simple, takes less effort, less stressful and is important to know. It fills me with a confidence in each person that is willing and takes the time to undertake it, knowing theyll learn something from it. Its an interesting learning curve that anyone who has to ask what or how to cycle a tank should know. Understanding the nitrogen cycle is the back bone of fish keeping and i dont care if this offends, if you dont or cant understand it you shouldnt be keeping. Understand and look after the water and the fish take care of themselves.
I have little against strict fishin cycling only when touted to the inexperienced as it can be a death sentence. That to me is the be all and end all between the 2 forms of cycling because one is forgiving and the other is merciless.
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