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freeworld71

freeworld71

Member
I have a 29 gallon w/2 damsels cycling the tank. My question is....I have been feeding them and the flakes are starting to accumulate on the substrate. Is this normal or does it mean I am overfeeding them? btw, if it helps i have a box filtration system.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
yes u r overfeeding them. why cycle w 2 damsels? its rather cruel imo. anyway, if they do survive the cycle, those 2 damsels will most likely terrorize whatever fish u r thinking of adding to the tank in the future. damsels r very aggressive, and hard to get out.
 
mike22cha

mike22cha

Active Member
Welcome to the boards. Sounds like you have a biocube or aquapod type filtration. Do you know what kind of lighting you have?
As for the damsels, using them to cycle is kinda cruel, but most people don't care because they are a pain in the butt. I'd take them back to a lfs if possible and get a piece of raw shrimp instead to cycle the tank.
How long have you been cycling?
Yeah you're probably over feeding if you have flake build up. I'd feed them a little bit at a time till they stop eating. But personaly, I'd take them back and get a raw piece of shrimp in their. Less stuff to worry about.
 
freeworld71

freeworld71

Member
I dont know why I chose damsels. People I bought tank from said the were good to cycle them w/. Why will they die after the cycle?
 
mike22cha

mike22cha

Active Member
Originally Posted by freeworld71
I dont know why I chose damsels. People I bought tank from said the were good to cycle them w/. Why will they die after the cycle?
They're just a pain in the butt to get out of the tank and if you keep them in their then they'll be a worse pain in the butt.
 
freeworld71

freeworld71

Member
Mike...Ive got just the standard hood that came with the tank and I am running zoomed ocean sun 10000k bulb. What is wrong w/cycling w/damsels?
 
mike22cha

mike22cha

Active Member
Originally Posted by freeworld71
Mike...Ive got just the standard hood that came with the tank and I am running zoomed ocean sun 10000k bulb. What is wrong w/cycling w/damsels?
Well most people will say it's cruel. I personaly hate damsels and could care less, but they are a pain in the butt to catch and get rid of, and if you leave them they will attack/bully/possibly kill any other fish you add.
A simple piece of shrimp would have been fine, if you ever cycle again.
What are your paramters at?
 
freeworld71

freeworld71

Member
paramaters? not sure what your asking? Let me check 18 watts, 24 '' 610mm does that answer? Why would damsels die during the cycle?
 
lecithin

lecithin

Member
Basically its just cruel to throw em in there, many times they live by why chance it regardless of how you feel of them.
Parameters are your water levels, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, ph, etc, you need a good test kit to test them.
They die because fish and living things are not supposed to be exposed to the levels that happen during a cycle. Ammonia spikes, nitrite spike, those things are lethal.
 
lecithin

lecithin

Member
you don't cycle with fish, you cycle with live rock, but if your tank isn't FOWLR or a reef tank then you put a raw shrimp in there. After a few days your ammonia will spike (a reading of 1) and then the nitrite will spike, then the nitrate, and bam, your done cycling (then comes a water change).
 
S

swalchemist

Guest
Cycle with raw shrimp. Cycling with live animals will result in damage to the animal. In this case a damsel was suggested to you because damsels are the hardiest of the SW fish and can survive almost anything. During a cycle ammonia elevates to a dangerous level which will burn the skin and gills of the fish resulting in high stress levels and usually death. It's something like throwing you in a closet and slowly pumping in chlorine gas for about 8 days. However the shiny side is damsels usually survive and after the tank is cycled and all your rock work looking good you decide to add a new fish. Guess what happens? Your survivor decides it's his tank and has no need for roommates. So you get to tear down your nice rock work completely and catch and evict the damsel. That in short is why you should never cycle with damsels.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
During the cycling process, nitrite and ammonia build up to high levels. Even in small amounts these are toxic. Like said, live rock or raw shrimp will cycle a tank with no problems.
You need to keep constant track of your water parameters; nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, etc to make sure that the cycle is complete.
-Justin
 
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