Cycling an aquarium

[supersmirky]

Here's a pretty interesting article (although in the UK) that 96% of retailers give bad advice on cylcing

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1616

[biggin]

I am somewhat curious how many people here do a 100% fishless cycle....

99.9% of the people who are buying an aquarium are expecting fish to be in them very quickly, not 3-4 weeks while you wait for it to cycle....

[AndrewH]

Some of the "cycling" articles I've read suggest yet another method.

It involves the establishment of some plants first (say 1-2 weeks), then add your fish. The theory is, the plant (of course it depends on which plants you select) will almost be starved of nitrogen so when you add in a few fish their waste will almost instantly be used by the plants.

Seems to have worked well in my 33 gallon.

[ElijahTurtle]

I think fishless cycle advocates have gotten they nuts in a cracker for some jollies & the magazines have followed suit. Without being belligerent, the article is saying the only proper was to setup a tank is the fishless method. That's a bunch of hogwash!
I'm not saying it's not a good method. on the contrary, it is but it's not the only good method. I learned a lot from a guy on fishgeeks several years back about cycling after considering his methods & observing my own tanks & other peoples experiences.
I did the whole fishless cycling thing before & I used to push the idea myself. Until I learned more about it. What they fail to realize, is that when the ammonia levels have hit zero, that at that point the beneficial bacteria population had already started to decline from a lack of a sufficient ammonia source. Bacteria requires a constant source of "food" like decaying fish poo & ammonia from other sources like respiration processes of the fish & other inhabitants to maintain a healthy & balanced level. They don't just say "Hey it's noon! Lunch time!" They're bacteria, they constantly consume & reproduce.
The article seems to imply that the idea is to never let the fish encounter ammonia at all. That's not possible, there is never truly an end to the cycling process. That's why it's called a cycle. Contaminate levels will always rise & fall unless you have a system that is continually exchanging water.
I'm sure much of the idea behind fishless cycling comes from observing the SW community & from those that have ventured on both sides of the fence. I see a lot of the principles applied insetting up a new SW system in the fishless method, where it is nearly a necessity.
Personally what is "good for the goose", may be good for the gander as well, it's just not necessary in the application of a FW tank. I tend to think a method works pretty well of initial seeding, stocking slowly & gradually increased feedings along with plenty of water changes. Most of my tanks have been started with plenty of plants as well.

[biggin]

X2....

Another method of moving filters form a cycled tank to a new tank was not discussed either.....

I think fishless cycle advocates have gotten they nuts in a cracker for some jollies & the magazines have followed suit. Without being belligerent, the article is saying the only proper was to setup a tank is the fishless method. That's a bunch of hogwash!
I'm not saying it's not a good method. on the contrary, it is but it's not the only good method. I learned a lot from a guy on fishgeeks several years back about cycling after considering his methods & observing my own tanks & other peoples experiences.
I did the whole fishless cycling thing before & I used to push the idea myself. Until I learned more about it. What they fail to realize, is that when the ammonia levels have hit zero, that at that point the beneficial bacteria population had already started to decline from a lack of a sufficient ammonia source. Bacteria requires a constant source of "food" like decaying fish poo & ammonia from other sources like respiration processes of the fish & other inhabitants to maintain a healthy & balanced level. They don't just say "Hey it's noon! Lunch time!" They're bacteria, they constantly consume & reproduce.
The article seems to imply that the idea is to never let the fish encounter ammonia at all. That's not possible, there is never truly an end to the cycling process. That's why it's called a cycle. Contaminate levels will always rise & fall unless you have a system that is continually exchanging water.
I'm sure much of the idea behind fishless cycling comes from observing the SW community & from those that have ventured on both sides of the fence. I see a lot of the principles applied insetting up a new SW system in the fishless method, where it is nearly a necessity.
Personally what is "good for the goose", may be good for the gander as well, it's just not necessary in the application of a FW tank. I tend to think a method works pretty well of initial seeding, stocking slowly & gradually increased feedings along with plenty of water changes. Most of my tanks have been started with plenty of plants as well.

[AndrewH]

x3 which is my preferred method (if I have that option).

[kewlkatdady]

I don't disagree with with the fishless cycle... but I wouldn't do it.

I alway use fish that will be in my tank. I stated above, I think seeding a filter is great when you have that option.
If you do not, then use few and small fish to get things started. I started my 125G with (5) 1.5 juvies and fed them every third day. The ammo never got over 4 ppm.

[bgbdwlf2500]

always used some type of hardy fish for the cycle and they tend to live longer than the fish the tank was being setup for...