Using Fish to Cycle

[FishyFishFish]

I am not using a fish to cycle my tank but was just thinking about how bad that would actually be.

Does the level of bacteria in the tank adjust to the bioload? e.g. If I have no Ammonia at all (i.e no inhabitants) then will all of the bacteria die off? I am starting a nano tank which will have 2, maybe 3 fish maximum and I plan to add them one at a time. Assuming I cycle my tank and add my first fish, and then wait a couple of months for my second, will the bacteria not have reduced to the minimum required to support that first fish. Therefore, when I add my second, will that not be the same as if I had just added 1 fish to my uncycled tank in the first place?


Secondly, with the current cold weather and the distance to my LFS, it could be 2-3 weeks after my tank is cycled before I can purchase my first fish. I assume I can keep the tank cycled with occasional dosing of ammonia?

 

[bark1ngspider]

In order for a tank to cycle the ammonia will spike and cause ammonia burn to the fishes gills and sometimes survive but not a good thing to do

 

[bark1ngspider]

I would also recommend dr Tim’s bacteria and no once tank is cycled I wouldn’t keep adding ammonia drops/if you really wanted to add mysis shrimp to keep feed the bacteria

 

[FishyFishFish]

I guess my question is, when I add the second fish will the ammonia spike again? And if, not, why not?

And why mysis shrimp but not ammonia?

 

[bark1ngspider]

The ammonia could spike after adding another fish but I would just do a water change...just make sure ur bio load and filter aren’t out of porportion(not too many fish and a small filter