How many fish do I need to 'keep the cycle'.

[FordForever]

I am just curious as to how many fish each of you think would be enough to keep the cycle going without ammonia. To help out others, I am asking as in general, not specifically my tank. Maybe fish per inch? Or how many zebras.

I was thinking 4 zebras in my 29G would work?

[mp3rp]

the number depends on the size of your aquarium, type of fish, and in a small way the type of filter. I know that doesn't really help much but that's all I got.

EDIT: I did some research and they say that you should use about 5 one-inch fish for every ten gallon.

[Lady Hobbs]

4 zerba's won't put out much ammonia. You might want a few more fish. You should always stock a few and then a week or so later add a few more.


Correction: My above reply was how to add fish after a cycle......not TO cycle. Sorry. Just read your post again and needed to correct myself.

[Drip Loop]

Your cycle will adapt to however much ammonia is being produced. If you have just one fish in there, you will get bacteria but in small amounts. If you wanted more fish at this point you would need to add them VERY slowly so the cycle can adjust to the number of fish in the tank.

[Collin1104]

some goldfish would work. lots of ammonia and much harder to kill! =)

[Fishguy2727]

Drip Loop said it perfectly. Whatever amount of ammonia is put into the tank, that is exactly the bioload your nitrifying bacteria will adjust to. If you need to handle ten two-inch danios, you need exactly that in there. If this changes for more than a day or so, they have readjusted to that smaller bioload. Add fish very slowly, just a few small ones at a time.