Why do the lfs all recommend cycling with fish?????

[lion_crazz]

Originally posted by ophiura
Now I try and make up for it by steering people down a better path I hope.
That is awesome, ophiura. I was the same way, and I think all of us were the same way at one point in time.
I always try to get people to buy live rock rather than damsels, and some people are so warped that when I recommend the dead shrimp method, they find it hard to believe because everyone else tells them damsels and starter fish.
Originally posted by mbrands
I know. I was more concerned that they end up selling him to a good home (i.e. responsible hobbyist). Sounds silly doesn't it?
That's not silly at all. I would also feel the same way if I was giving a fish back to a lfs.

 

[benj2112]

Originally posted by pohtr
The reason I was given by the last lfs who sounded VERY knowledgeable was that the shrimp introduces all sorts of undesireables like fungus & maybe bad bacteria.
That is kind of interesting. Have any experienced reefers here heard anything like this? I have only been in the hobby for a bit over a year, but I don't think I have heard or know much about fungus (I haven't had sick fish either, though). What other kinds of "bad" bacteria are there besides cyano outbreaks?

 

[ophiura]

Well, there are bacterial infections as well as fungal infections of fish...but not all bacteria and fungus will infect fish. IMO those that are involved in the natural decay process are different from those that would infect fish down the road. IMO you would do more harm by introducing fish like damsels into a stressful situation. They commonly have fungal or parasitic diseases that could then be introduced to a tank. So I would throw that idea right back in the face of any LFS guy who said the decay of a dead shrimp would introduce more harmful bacterial/fungus than a bunch of damsels.

 

[molamola]

"My name is Ophiura. And I sold damsels to people to cycle tanks. Yup :nope:"
Ah Ophiura...you should have run screaming out the door when the lady that took your application looked at you like you were nuts for wanting to work there

Truthfully, you took better care of the animals that came into that store than all of the other employees combined, so you're conscience is clean. :yes:

 

[pohtr]

I have so little LS & LR because that's all I can afford. There is also some dead rock in there and I plan to add more later. I'm toying with the idea of using stoneware clay to build more structure and hiding places. Kind of like building artificial rock or coral.
Hydro - my levels have stayed at zero
Ophura -I do have a wet/dry and a Mag 5 (probably) which is only300gph (does that sound right?). I have a surge 3500 protein skimmer which is not on at the moment. The lfs guy said to leave it off, but now the water's getting cloudy (I'm at wk 2). A different lfs person told me I didn't need power heads for FO. Do I figure in the skimmer when calculating the gph? I really don't know what I need at this point.
Also, should I add more shrimp or just wait???

 

[lefty]

You need powerheads.
One thing people that come into this hobby must learn is patience. The people who like to rush and buy damsels to cycle their tank are putting their wants and needs before those of the fish. And that is NOT the way this hobby should be.
-lefty

 

[benj2112]

yeah...you need powerheads for FO. Without them you will get dead spots in your tank and those are where you will get those cyano outbreaks that you can't get to go away otherwise.

 

[snipe]

Never knew ophiura was so into this.