proudmomoftwins

Finally, next weekend I will be getting my aquarium. My brother's friend got his aquarium cleaned out and my brother will be bringing it out to me next Saturday. It's a 55 gallon aquarium and will come with every thing. I'm so excited to get it set up and start getting it cycled.

Over the weekend I went to a tropical fish store, just a small private owned store and got to look at a ton of different freshwater fish. I told the owner what I was interested in, and what size tank I'll have...etc. The owner (of ten years) told me to come back once I was ready to start stocking my aquarium. I then told him that I wanted to do a fishless cycle and he looked at me funny and asked me what I meant by that. I told him that I didn't want to add fish until after the nitrogen cycle was complete making it safer and less stressful for the fish. He acted like I had no clue to what I was talking about, and told me after three days of having water in the tank I needed to get the fish in there.

I am so confused about getting started. Here all the articals and people on the forums say wait until the cycle has completed and all the stores I've been so say it's impossible to do a cycle without fish. I'm going to take the advice I get from here, and only pray that when I actually do get started next week you guys will be here for me to help through this. I know I've already asked a ton of questions, but I've got to warn you that there will probably be a ton more to come!!

Nate McFin

My LFS did the same thing. Dont worry....do it fishless and you and your fish will be happier. I tried to explain to my LFS about the ammonia doing the fishes job but it went right over their heads. I guess sadly for the fish its our secret.
BTW Rest assured there will ALWAYS be someone here to answer your questions no matter how many you have. =)

Dozey

If we could rely on our LFS for useful, knowledgeable information this forum may very well not exist. It is appalling that a LFS owner would have absolutely no clue about the nitrogen cycle or fishless cycling but it is in their best interest not to know about it. Advising customers about these subjects would mean healthy aquariums and fish that live for many years resulting in the loss of sales. I guess if my livelihood depended on selling fish it would be best for me not to know about such subjects.

Rest assured the members of FishLore participate here to educate themselves and to share with others the knowledge and experiences they have come to know. Ask as many questions as you need. Members will be more then glad to answer all.

Best of luck!

aquarist48

My LFS told me that since I have well water I wouldn't be able to keep anything alive. I've had all of my fish in 155g for 5 to 8 years. I haven't bought a fish for this tank in 5 years. ha ha ha to the LFS. I will never take advice from a LFS. Good luck with your cycle. Hope we get some pics when your done.

Lucy

I bet you're excited! Take your time, you'll be glad you did and ask as many questions as you need to.

We managed to kill a tank of guppies by listening to a lfs. They told us the same thing, let the tank run for 3 days and add fish.
They never told us about the nitrogen cycle either.
Sad They were a birthday gift for my daughter and it took her years to want fish again.

shih-tzu mom

Proudmomoftwins; it is sad that the lfs tells such things to new people, but thus the same was told to me. And being confused i tried it their way-guess what did not work!! i tried additives and all that and the only thing that worked was ammonia lol and no!! fish!!! So morrow of the story-Don't pay attention to your lfs lol and good luck with your fishless cycle-bella

Stephen 31

I see people on here saying that it's in the LFS interest just to sell fish but i don't think that's even the case. I think it's just ignorance and lack of interest in learning.
I found a LFS over the weekend and he was saying that considering the cost of keeping them He makes very little on livestock. All his money is made on aftercare product such as TSS.
He won't stock the small tanks for goldfish and won't sell them to people without telling them there requirements. He stocks pure ammonia and teaches people about the cycle. Because of that people will drive for miles to come to him, and they buy all their test kits and water treatment products and all meds.
My point is i think if the LFS put in a bit of effort and educate beginners properly they would see a rise in profits not a drop.
Sorry this was off topic.