How tough?

Ok. So, when I added my angels to my 55 gal tank, it set off a min-cycle which I have been trying to keep under control with water changes. So far, I have been able to keep the ammonia levels to .5, but have not been able to get it down under that. I have not seen any behavioral changes since the cycle started, and the fish seem to be just fine. My question is, are the angels likely to be tough enough to be able to ride this cycle out naturally? There is a lfs where I can get my hands on some bio spira if need be, but as you know it is kinda pricy. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sean

 

Added bio-spira this evening, out of an abundance of caution. I'd rather not wake up to dead angels some morning!

 

I've had all sorts of problems getting my tank to cycle properly. 1 of my angels, Sparkle, has survived all the changes fine. Despite reading that angels are delicate, he's been tough as ****!

 

My experience is that angels are pretty hardy. Many years ago I had 2 angelfish that lived in spite of terrible care on my part (I had no idea you needed to clean gravel, or about the nitrogen cycle, etc). Those two anglfish followed me through 2 apartments, and lived for over 3 years. Had I known anything about what I was doing I have faith those fish would have made it far ar longer

 

Hello -
I have in a real pinch cycled a tank with my own Angles ! Was on pins and needles, BUT they are pretty tough fish really.
Water changes are a must every day for quite a while. Mine were in a twenty gal. so you might be able to go every two days in a 55.
But most of them will probbly make it. Younger ones and juvies seem to have the hardest time. It is just a mini-cycle not a fresh tank, right ?
How many do you have it the tank, and how old are they ?
B

 

Well, everyone seems to be doing fine. There are 4 angels, which I got roughly 1 month ago. I am not sure how old they were when I got them, but they were pretty small. I've been doing lots of water changes to keep everyone safe, and they have not shown any signs of stress. Looks like the water quality is starting to stabilize, so I think I'm about through the cycle (again...yes it was a mini, not a fresh tank). Rainbows are next for the tank, but I'll give it another week or two to be sure everything is settled down before bringing them in.