Choosing the best hardy fish for cycling is important to your fish tank’s beauty and overall habitat. You can pick various types of fish such as tetras, swordtails, guppies, or other fish that are great for cycling. But what types are best fits?
This article will provide everything you should know about hardy fish related to the cycling process. Scroll down for details!
Contents
What Is Hardy Fish?
Hardy fish refers to fish that are simple to care for in an aquarium environment at your home. They may adapt to variable water parameters and quality. Such types of fish are the best fish for an excellent “cycling” process.
What Are The Best Types Of Hardy Fish For Cycling?
What fish are good for cycling a tank? Below are the common and ideal candidates you can choose to cycle your fish tank effectively.
Tetras
You can purchase this tough fish for your aquarium. They feature a beautiful color with a small shape and are simple to care for. They are social animals and love to form groups, so you should put a big quantity inside your tank.
The more fish you have, the more benefits you get. The happier they feel, the more prosperous they can be. Keep in mind that blood worms are their favorite food.
[display-posts id=”4477″ image_size=”thumbnail” posts_per_page=”1″]
Swordtails
Despite being rare, these resilient species turn out to be excellent for your home aquariums. They love a plant-based diet, so you should encourage the natural algae in your tank.
Vegetable flakes are great food you may also give on a certain basis. Swordtails are compatible with the water temperature between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but they still live well despite the warmer or lower temperatures.
Guppies
The next candidate you can choose is guppies, available in stunning shapes and attractive colors. They prefer bloodworm and frozen brine shrimp.
Guppies are powerful and resistant, so they may survive without eating for more than a week. This sounds like good news for absent-minded owners, but it’s always best to feed them on time.
[display-posts id=”4119″ image_size=”thumbnail” posts_per_page=”1″]
Cherry Barb
These vibrant, gorgeous fish are perfect for cycling, although settling into a new “house” will be hard. They are friendly and tough to withstand abnormal changes in water conditions and grow up to 2 inches in length.
When getting used to the new “nest”, they will be funny and active to watch. You should put the natural and fresh plants inside the tank instead of using the rubber plants for cherry barbells.
Put at least six fish in your tank to have an optimal habitat. You have to feed them frequently for about a few weeks to get accustomed to their feeding habits.
Pearl Danios
These fish are ideal for cycling because they are easygoing. They are perfect for lending your home aquarium an appealing touch. With a maximum size of 1 inch, they are suitable for 10-gallon tanks.
Most pearlfish are outstanding with jewel-like spots, a deep blue metal body, and orange bands on the fins. Thus, they paint your tank colorful. These tough fish love caves, rocks, and driftwood in the tank. Don’t add other fish to your 10-gallon tank if there are 10 of these “residents” already.
[display-posts id=”4049″ image_size=”thumbnail” posts_per_page=”1″]
Pygmy Corydoras
These strong and tough fish can live in a school of 10 or more. They feature horizontal black lines with iridescent bodies and small sizes. Specifically, they can develop up to about 1.2 inches in length. These fish prefer hiding, so you’d better supply lots of plants for hiding places in the aquarium.
You may create hiding places for them with natural trees, large leaves, and driftwood. Also, use a sand surface instead of gravel or rocks to give them a safer environment.
Dwarf Gourami
A peaceful environment and moderate maintenance are what these hardy fish need. You can distinguish between males and females thanks to their different colors. Males often have orange-red blue stripes, while females come with yellow stripes with silver-blue bodies.
You must supply sufficient plants for their hiding places and put the dark materials in the tank to make them vibrant. Keep three dwarf gouramis in a 10-gallon aquarium at least.
[display-posts id=”4134″ image_size=”thumbnail” posts_per_page=”1″]
Golden Dwarf Barbs
These fish are popular in Nepal and northern India. This is a lesser-known fish, but you can count on them to cycle in your tank. A 10-gallon tank is proper for 10 fish since it can grow up to 1.5 inches.
They will feel happy and relaxed in well-planted tanks. As such, you should add natural plants or driftwood to the aquarium.
How Long Does It Take to Cycle a Tank With Fish?
It will take from 6 to 8 weeks to cycle the aquarium with fish for the first time.
Yet, the exact time also depends on how you want to use and establish the bacterial colonies.
How Can I Speed Up My Cycling Tank?
You can speed up your tanks in different ways. The best way is to use pre-purchased bacterial cultures. It takes a week for the colonies to form, but it only takes about 15 hours for the colonies to mature under the right conditions.
Another way is to increase the oxygen. Nitrifying bacteria can work best based on the rich oxygen. The richer oxygen is in the aquarium, the quicker the nitrification process.
You can boost this process by using a well-ventilated tank or combining an airstone with an optimal aerator. The final way to speed up this process is by raising the water temperature. However, this way is more dangerous and more difficult to do.
[display-posts id=”3375″ image_size=”thumbnail” posts_per_page=”1″]
How Can You Cycle A Fish Tank?
You need to equip your tank with an aquarium circulation pump to speed up the natural flow. Besides, fill the bottom of the tank with the proper substrate.
Use the under-gravel filters and hang them up; they are necessary for the cycled tank.
You may add raw household ammonia to the tank to cycle it naturally and easily.
A handy water quality test kit is important for this process. It will help you check the water quality, nitrogen levels, and ammonia amount to give your tank proper work and aquatic plants good health.
Conclusion
The above is everything you need to know about the hardy fish for cycling. You can learn detailed information about the good types of fish that might assist you in this process.
After choosing the best fish, you should make a complete environment in your aquarium with sufficient space and natural plants for your fish. Besides, you must provide enough oxygen levels for a consistent cycling process.
