Ghost feeding vs. Silverside

VicD81 · May 28, 2014

I've only ever cycled with wet live rock and the way I see it is just like throwing some shrimp or fish in there. Right not ive got some 2 silversides in a mesh bag. Besides I don't like the mind games it plays with you having to feed an empty tank. I WANT SOME FISH IN THERE!!!

Is there any benefit to doing one or the other?

Pete polyp · May 28, 2014

The silversides and ghost feedings will probably end up making more ammonia than a fish will. The end result will be a harder cycle and a better nitrifying population. And this way a fish will not have to go through the torture of being burned until the ammonia settles.

VicD81 · May 28, 2014

Yea not gonna put poor fish through that. I only do fishless cycles.

But is there any benefit to doing Silversides or Ghost feeding? Or do people do both?

Pete polyp · May 28, 2014

I always do the ghost feeding method. I do it that way because I have frozen fish foods available. I can't really think of any reason the two would have different results. With the silversides it may be a little more convenient because multiple feedings would not be necessary.

Pete polyp · May 28, 2014

Then again.... If you ghost feed it would also feed all the great little hitchhikers in the rocks..... Now you have me wondering!

Naiad · May 28, 2014

I would say if you use live rock then ghost feeding would be better because you would not have as harsh a cycle and you can get all the good critters nice and fat while you wait for fish. If you are using dry rock it seems easier and faster to just let the large silversides rot. That's my logic.

Tahoe61 · May 28, 2014

If you add meat/fish/shrimp..to decay it will in roughly a weeks time, the nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria are growing, population increasing so on and so forth. After you get that nice ammonia spike and the nitrogen cycle is in full swing then the levels over the course of the next couple of weeks drop off, not only because you might have enough benefical bacteria, but because you have no decaying matter, no bi-products of metabolism, the bacteria have done their job, but they need an on going source to keep multiply hence the ghost feeding. Ghost feeding has never been more complicated to me than walking past the tank and throwing a pinch of fish food in every other day (the amount depends on the size of your system).
Myself I like to cycle a tank using fully cured quality rock and ghost feeding.

Pete polyp · May 28, 2014

Tahoe61 said:
If you add meat/fish/shrimp..to decay it will in roughly a weeks time, the nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria are growing, population increasing so on and so forth. After you get that nice ammonia spike and the nitrogen cycle is in full swing then the levels over the course of the next couple of weeks drop off, not only because you might have enough benefical bacteria, but because you have no decaying matter, no bi-products of metabolism, the bacteria have done their job, but they need an on going source to keep multiply hence the ghost feeding. Ghost feeding has never been more complicated to me than walking past the tank and throwing a pinch of fish food in every other day (the amount depends on the size of your system).
Myself I like to cycle a tank using fully cured quality rock and ghost feeding.

This is exactly how I chose to setup every tank I have. I just thaw a little extra everyday when I feed my other tanks and dump the leftovers in. I see all these people who use dry rock claiming to save money and avoiding horrible hitchhikers. I can buy premium live rock cheaper than dry rock, and the only nasty hitchhikers I have encountered came from frags.

Tahoe61 · May 28, 2014

Pete polyp said:
This is exactly how I chose to setup every tank I have. I just thaw a little extra everyday when I feed my other tanks and dump the leftovers in. I see all these people who use dry rock claiming to save money and avoiding horrible hitchhikers. I can buy premium live rock cheaper than dry rock, and the only nasty hitchhikers I have encountered came from frags.

Yeah you just have to buy pest free rock. If someone wants more rock they can just add some dry after things start cooking. I get more pest off frags than anything else by far. Not to encourage anyone to rush things but it really is a faster way to cycle a tank. End result is the same, just give the already present bacteria some fuel and test, then I do a 10% water change and stock slowly. No live fish until I know it's safe.

VicD81 · May 28, 2014

Tahoe good point. I'll just throw in another silverside when it peaks.

I've cycled with live rock and I got an explosion of copepods, worms and snails. It was amazing to watch. Just felt like doing dry rock this time.

I'm asking because I have more silversides than I know what to do with, and it just seems easier. I figure why not put it to good use.

Tahoe61 · May 28, 2014

The only thing I would watch for is too much of a good thing, if ammonia and nitrites get too high you stall your cycle and it actually takes longer.

Pete polyp · May 28, 2014

VicD81 said:
Tahoe good point. I'll just throw in another silverside when it peaks.

I've cycled with live rock and I got an explosion of copepods, worms and snails. It was amazing to watch. Just felt like doing dry rock this time.

I'm asking because I have more silversides than I know what to do with, and it just seems easier. I figure why not put it to good use.

I assumed you had used live rock this time as well... In that case there are no good hitchhikers to be feeding.