Adding Ammonia To Cycling Tank w/ Fish Already In?

[NJBillyV]

So my Reefer 170 is ready to roll and it's time to start cycling it.

I've had a YWG and Firefish in QT for 6 weeks so they're ready to go in.

I was going to cycle it using Dr. Tim's and Ammonium Chloride. BUT, I kinda want to put the fish in so I can use the QT for other fish.

My concern is:

If I run a Dr. Tim's + fish cycle am I going to get adequate long term nitrifying bacteria growth.

Or, could I add a small amount of Ammonium Chloride to the tank along with the fish to spur bacterial growth?

Fish + Dr. Tim's + Ammonium Chloride = Dumb Idea or Workable Idea??

 

[Cell]

Do not add ammonia if livestock is present. Could you get away with it with an established biofilter? Sure. But yours is not so you are putting the livestock at risk of harm or death.

 

[saltcats]

The fish should act as your source of ammonia. A fish-in cycle generally takes longer than a fishless cycle since you have to keep ammonia levels lower, but long term you should get the same result.

 

[Andreas' Reef]

You are gonna kill your fish if you do that. Anything above 1 ppm WILL stress/kill them

 

[Reef.]

I would go for Fritz turbo start if you are going to do that, adding ammonia with fish is a crazy thing to do, especially as they have just already been through qt, which is stressful anyway, then to drop them in a tank with ammonia!

I have to say the tank should really have been ready now, if you have fish in qt, rushing it now is not the best.

 

[Kal93]

Definitely do not add fish while cycling a tank with ammonium nitrate! Be patient for 1-2 more weeks; cycling with bottled bacteria doesn't take that long. You will kill or seriously injure your fish with ammonia burns.

 

[NJBillyV]

See that's why I come here.

So long term what's better Dr. Tim's + Ammonia or Dr. Tim's + Fish?

And thanks for all your help, really appreciate it.

 

[Reef.]

See that's why I come here.

So long term what's better Dr. Tim's + Ammonia or Dr. Tim's + Fish?

And thanks for all your help, really appreciate it.

Long term, once the tank is cycled it’s cycled, some feel putting a fish in a tank when it is not fully cycled is cruel., and is not needed as you can cycle a tank without the fish.
Dr Tim’s ammonia and One and only or Fritz turbo start is a good way to go, keep the lights off till you get coral and you will set yourself up for a good cycle that will limit the ugly stage.