Max nitrates for a damsel to survive cycling?

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

I know cycling with hardy fish is generally frowned upon but I have read it’s also an acceptable method of feeding the bacteria while it cycles

What would you say the max nitrate levels are for a hardy fish like a damsel?

AngryMike2016 · Jun 22, 2019

Not sure what is acceptable about it. With methods like a deli shrimp, bacteria in a bottle & liquid ammonia, there really isn't any good reason to use a fish to cycle.

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

any ideas on numbers?

Just curious for knowledge what is say lethal vs is what is not good vs what is acceptable for long term health

HOOPDEEZ · Jun 22, 2019

Nitrates? Not sure, probably rather high. ammonia, however is very toxic. I’ll second that a fish cycle is unnecessary, and putting a damsel in first (or at all depending on species) can be a problem.

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

Just looking for info

I get that it’s frowned upon

Wanted to know what is

Life threatening vs just not good on nitrates

Obviously if there is 1ppm of ammonia in the tank and you drop a few fish in your an idiot. I get that part

Brett S · Jun 22, 2019

Honestly, ammonia and nitrites are what you need to be concerned about as far as killing or harming a fish that you’re cycling with. They can kill at very low levels. Nitrates are the last step in the nitrification process and are produced after the tank is fully cycled, not during the cycling process. They are continually produced in a cycled tank and people often run tanks with reasonably high nitrate levels.

I’m not quite sure where you’re going with this question, but it sounds like you don’t really understand the cycling process.

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

Brett S said:
Honestly, ammonia and nitrites are what you need to be concerned about as far as killing or harming a fish that you’re cycling with. They can kill at very low levels. Nitrates are the last step in the nitrification process and are produced after the tank is fully cycled, not during the cycling process. They are continually produced in a cycled tank and people often run tanks with reasonably high nitrate levels.

I’m not quite sure where you’re going with this question, but it sounds like you don’t really understand the cycling process.

Just a question

Jake_the_reefer · Jun 22, 2019

Any posting of a fish cycle is a hot button topic you will receive hell for even bringing it up lol but to answer your question, in general .25 ppm is acceptable in general and anything above is the "stress" zone. I would say at 10ppm you are really pushing it. I personally don't condone any sort of fish cycle including in fresh water tanks with 25 cent fish. I hope my answer helped some

Flippers4pups · Jun 22, 2019

100-150 ppm before there's major problem.

Brett S · Jun 22, 2019

Jacob Bowman said:
but to answer your question, in general .25 ppm is acceptable in general and anything above is the "stress" zone. I would say at 10ppm you are really pushing it.

This is definitely not the case for nitrates. Many tanks are sun successfully with much higher numbers.

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

Jacob Bowman said:
Any posting of a fish cycle is a hot button topic you will receive hell for even bringing it up lol but to answer your question, in general .25 ppm is acceptable in general and anything above is the "stress" zone. I would say at 10ppm you are really pushing it. I personally don't condone any sort of fish cycle including in fresh water tanks with 25 cent fish. I hope my answer helped some

.25 for nitrates?
I think you are a bit confused

People regularly run 5-10 not .25 and consider
it safe

I’m assuming you just misplaced the decimal point but even 25 is not that bad as I understand it

ScottR · Jun 22, 2019

Rscott said:
I know cycling with hardy fish is generally frowned upon but I have read it’s also an acceptable method of feeding the bacteria while it cycles

What would you say the max nitrate levels are for a hardy fish like a damsel?

Hi @Rscott I'm @ScottR - I guess you’re the alternate me. Only problem with using a damsel to cycle is having a damsel in my tank after cycling. To me, damsels are devils!!!!;Nailbiting

Rscott · Jun 22, 2019

ScottR said:
Hi @Rscott I'm @ScottR - I guess you’re the alternate me. Only problem with using a damsel to cycle is having a damsel in my tank after cycling. To me, damsels are devils!!!!;Nailbiting

Haha well hello my alter ego!

I read that a blue sapphire or “springer” damsel is not as mean as some others?

Not the case?

I was reading up and several people say they are fine if you have lots of cave type aquascape that they can find a place to call there own that can remain their own long term and they can defend it.

Who knows I have been in the hobby for 5 weeks lol

Red1CA · Jun 22, 2019

Use dr.tims. I was able to cycle my 75 tall in a matter of 1.5 weeks without using live fish

ScottR · Jun 22, 2019

Rscott said:
Haha well hello my alter ego!

I read that a blue sapphire or “springer” damsel is not as mean as some others?

Not the case?

I was reading up and several people say they are fine if you have lots of cave type aquascape that they can find a place to call there own that can remain their own long term and they can defend it.

Who knows I have been in the hobby for 5 weeks lol

I’ve never kept those kind. I’ve had yellow fin blue damsels. They’ll bully fish twice their size. I currently have some blue green chromis which are a type of damsel and are extremely friendly. Perhaps a bit shy. But chromis are subject to uronema parasites and probably wouldn’t do well in a cycling. But there are lots of people that swear that you can put any fish in and a good bottled bacteria and cycle instantly. Fritz turbo 900 I think is a popular choice. Don’t quote me on the exact name. But the quality of these bottled bacteria products are much better than days past where damsels were a popular option.

IslandLifeReef · Jun 25, 2019

Rscott said:
I know cycling with hardy fish is generally frowned upon but I have read it’s also an acceptable method of feeding the bacteria while it cycles

What would you say the max nitrate levels are for a hardy fish like a damsel?

So is this the thing you were referring to in your skimmer thread?

How is your tank cycle going?

Rscott · Jun 25, 2019

IslandLifeReef said:
So is this the thing you were referring to in your skimmer thread?

How is your tank cycle going?

SHHHHHH!!!!

Quiet you!

Actually, so far so good (until its not) lol. I will update my cycling thread today.

IslandLifeReef · Jun 25, 2019

Rscott said:
SHHHHHH!!!!

Quiet you!

Actually, so far so good (until its not) lol. I will update my cycling thread today.

I bet you open your presents before Christmas, Lol!

Thales · Jun 25, 2019

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php#5

check the section "how toxic is nitrate to fish"

FWIW, using live animals to cycle a tank isn't really 'frowned upon' it is intentional animal abuse.

Rscott · Jun 25, 2019

Thales said:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php#5

check the section "how toxic is nitrate to fish"

FWIW, using live animals to cycle a tank isn't really 'frowned upon' it is intentional animal abuse.

Not really cycling, just simple 2 days early then my reef mature kit suggests. ammonia was < .15 (less then) nitrites were < .2 less then.

Everything else was on the money. They are eating and swimming like normal. Temps good, pH good, Alk good, Water is nice and clear with no algae.

I think there is a difference between throwing a few fish in with ammonia at 1ppm and nitrites at 5 vs what i did which might of been a day or two early but hardly what i would call harmful.

Also, now that the secret is out, my nitrates were 25.

Not 150 as some have suggested that is the harmful level. So with more info now posted i would not say what i did was cruel. They seem to be doing pretty well right now.