Loaches Online Forum

In my previous post about upgrading from my small to a larger tank, the suggestion was made the place a few "starter fish" in the new one to get the cycle going before adding my loaches.
What kind of fish would be good to get (right now I have 4 loaches, and the new tank is 30 gal.).

i wouldn't use fish to cycle - its stressful on the fish if they make it through but they could get sick (ich, flex, flukes etc) and cause problems.

Why not fishless cycle or seed the new filter with some media from your old tank and feed it ammonia until its eating enough ammonia to support your new inhabitants? Its cheap it just takes a bottle of pure ammonia and patience.

Will you be moving everything over from the smaller tank and moving it into the larger tank. Just putting your old filter on the new tank would cycle it.

Fishless cycle:
A) Set up tank just like you would for fish: Filter, heater, plants, substrate, ceramic mermaid... run it for a day or two so you know all the equipment is working, the temperature is holding. Make sure the KH and GH are at least 3 degrees, and the pH that is best (for the bacteria) is between 7 - 7.5, but the bacteria will grow at a wider range (6.5 to
1) Add whatever filter media you can spare from a cycled tank. (I have removed as much as 25% of the media from a filter and the donor tank showed no minicycle)
2) Add pure ammonia until a test reads 5 ppm. No surfactants, no perfumes, no 'sudsing agents', no colorants.
3) Test daily, and add enough ammonia to keep it reading 5 ppm until nitrites show up.
4) When nitrites show up, allow the ammonia to drop to 3 ppm, then continue adding ammonia daily to maintain 3 ppm.
5) If nitrite gets over 5 ppm do a water change.
6) When ammonia and nitrites are 0 ppm, and nitrates are rising, the tank is cycled. Add more ammonia to make sure the bacteria can remove it promptly. There may be a few minor blips for a couple of days, then steady readings: Ammonia and nitrite are reliably and promptly being removed.
7) You can maintain a cycled tank by feeding ammonia until you are ready for fish.
When you are ready for fish, do a large water change to reduce the nitrates as low as possible. A couple of 90% water changes is a good idea.

Actually, I also disliked the idea for "starter fish" for the reasons you mentioned! I did a fishless cycle in my other 30 gal tank last year (has goldfish in it). It took me approx 4 weeks to complete the cycle, but it was worth it.
With this new 30 gal. tank I will transfer rocks, decor, filter, etc. over from the old 10 gal. tank - so it should not be as drastic for the starter fish. I have 4 loaches - and would like to add a few other compatible small fish to the tank. Any recommendation????

What kind of loaches (sorry I'm sure you recently posted on this)

Goldfish are one of my favourite fish. I noticed someone else posted they had a 90 gallong goldfish tank which was really cool.