Can you beleive this......

[topfish2]

My friend has a new 150 gallon tank. He goes out to the store,(p.s. the tank is cycling, about 3 days old). and comes back with a yellow tang. The idiot at the lfs, said since you have a big tank you don't use damsels, you can use a yellow tang, to cycle. <img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" />

 

[underthesea]

Well I think your friend is going to learn the hard way about loosing fish. I can not believe that the lfs said that it was ok to us a tang to cycle the tank since it is large. He is just in it for the mone and does not care how many fish die. He should care about the tanks these fish are going into. The fish store I go to will not sell you a fish like that to cycle the tank he will also not sell you a fish that will not live in your tank ex(a lemon shark in a 55 gallon tank).. The fish store person needs to get beat.

 

[jacksonpt]

Get your friend on this board PRONTO!!! I've heard some crazy things out of my LFS, but nothing like that. If it's not too late, see if the tang can be returned.

 

[fshhub]

some people eo say you can cycle with a tang, but idefinitely would not reccommmend it, you can cycle with anyfish, but i do not even reccommend that, sue grecery style peel and eat shrimp, jsut throw a couuple in and let mother nature do the rest, or you could use lr/ls
and yes, i do believe it, my one lfs says the same thing, but i never would consider it, for me, not only is it stressful for het fish, but too risky, tangs are not cheap, and also can become aggressive towards everything added after them in a tank

 

[drew_tt]

I dont acknowledge that this "idiot" gave good advice, but you can *essentially* cycle with any fish. Cycling with fish is fish. I, myself, think cycling with fish is cruel and wrong, but whats the difference between cycling with a tang or damsel? This lfs is almost the same as any other that would recommend cycling with fish [ie damsels.]
Im not blaming anyone since its not your friends fault, or the lfs worker's fault. Its no ones fault, but your friend chose to cycle with fish and cant hold the lfs responsible for his mistake... just get him up to speed and make sure he researches before trying anything else.
Drew

 

[topfish2]

My friend barely knows any thing about saltwater fish, hes just starting, he thought (since the guy at the lfs told him) that you can cycle a tank with tangs. Damsels are extremely hardy, and can live easily through cycles, without catching any disease. But tangs on the other side, need excellent water parameters, and need excellent feedings. He only feeds his fish dry krill. I don't go to that lfs, only fo get live rock. I'm going to tell him to try to return it, but i'm not sure if the lfs, will take it back. There only in it for the money.

 

[scott270]

i too cycled with a yellow tang lfs advice and now the tang has black ich but other than that he is ok, i will be treating the ich this week

 

[von_rahvin]

it is a shame that some people care nothing for the fish. While yes it is possible to cycle a tank with anykind of fish it is not recommended to use a tang or any other "weaker" fish. just let your fiend know so next time he will be wiser about the popel that he is buying fishies from

 

[drew_tt]

I know what youre saying... yes, tangs are much more sensitive than damsels, but cycling with fish is cycling with fish. You cannot blame the worker for their advice. Your friend chose, out of his own free will, to cycle with live fish. His choice... whats the difference what fish he uses? Tangs are more sensitive, expensive, etc... but its still cruel.
its not the workers fault, though. your friend purchased the fish... cant hold him responsible for "bad" advice or outdated knowledge... just make sure he researches anything else before he buys anything.
Drew

 

[sharker]

Ya, your right, but hes brand new, and he knows squat. He probibly thinks damsels like to go through cycles.