Leave dead fish for cycling?

So my 135 is cycling right now.
Plants are growing as well.
I have
1.0ppm ammonia.
1.0 ppm nitrite.
0.00 ppm nitrate.
I'm cycling it with goldfish.
I started with 20 I have lost 4.
I want the levels to rise a bit more...3 of the dead guys are on my wave maker.
Do I leave them??? Let them decay and feed the ammonia ?
Do I take them ?
Do I do a water change to be nice to the other guys still alive and slow down the cycling process???
Majority rules on this. Whatever gets repeated most is what I'll be doing...I'm torn between being humane and getting the tank going for the main fish it will be housing.

 

Remove the dead fish, that's going to cause a huge ammonia spike and likely kill the remaining fish. A fish in cycle is VERY hard on fish, remove any fish that do not make it immediately.

 

I would remove them. You're gonna want to keep ammonia levels low anyway if you want them alive, so leaving them in is just making more water changes.

 

Take the dead ones out and add safe start plus.

 

With fish in you need to cater to the fish over the cycle. Typically you try to stay under .5 ammonia and .5 nitrite and the cycle will happen at its own pace.

 

I'm curious, why do you want to elevate ammonia levels? Are you trying to do it so you can stock more fish at once?

 

I guess I don’t understand using feeder fish for a fish in cycle knowing they will die. Just using liquid ammonia is much easier and doesn’t result in fish living in bad conditions before death. My input is skip the fish in cycle and buy ammonia to add to the tank. Much more humane and easier in my opinion.

 

Your doing a fish in cycle. Your main objective is to keep the fish alive. Yes there feeders but healthy feeders are what you want. So water change to keep the tank clean. Keep ammonia and nitrite as low as possible. Don’t you have another tank running? You can take some cycled media from that tank and add to this tank to quicken the cycle.

 

I guess I don’t understand using feeder fish for a fish in cycle knowing they will die. Just using liquid ammonia is much easier and doesn’t result in fish living in bad conditions before death. My input is skip the fish in cycle and buy ammonia to add to the tank. Much more humane and easier in my opinion.

I tried to order it and they wont send it to me for some reason...

 

Your doing a fish in cycle. Your main objective is to keep the fish alive. Yes there feeders but healthy feeders are what you want. So water change to keep the tank clean. Keep ammonia and nitrite as low as possible. Don’t you have another tank running? You can take some cycled media from that tank and add to this tank to quicken the cycle.

Yes I do. I took one piece of decor out of my 28 gallon and the bio rings from one of the filters on my 55 gallon.
I took the dead guys out and will more than likely change the water on Sunday

 

I'm curious, why do you want to elevate ammonia levels? Are you trying to do it so you can stock more fish at once?

No, I have a d.i.y above tank media box that is almost 7ft long and want to increase ammonia to about 3ppm, then change the water and see how well my media box can filter.

 

No, I have a d.i.y above tank media box that is almost 7ft long and want to increase ammonia to about 3ppm, then change the water and see how well my media box can filter.

Got to say that’s the fishless approach not the fish in approach. Your filter is working. Give those goldfish a month and that tank should be ready. With a fish in cycle when your ready to add your main fish don’t add them all at once add a few at a time and give the filter time to produce bb before adding the next group.

 

Got to say that’s the fishless approach not the fish in approach. Your filter is working. Give those goldfish a month and that tank should be ready. With a fish in cycle when your ready to add your main fish don’t add them all at once add a few at a time and give the filter time to produce bb before adding the next group.

Gotcha.....so now my next question. What the heck am I gonna do with these 16 gold fish now?
Water changes until cycled and then???
Return them to the store or let them in their with 3 bala sharks 1 black ghost knife, 1 pictus catfish and 2 rope fish?

 

Keep doing those water changes so ammonia and nitrite don't go too high. Goldfish can generally tolerate a lot, but keeping it lower is better.

I would return them. Actually, after keeping them I always get the "vibe"(sorry, had to say that lol) that they belong more in species only tanks. That may just be me however.

 

Keep doing those water changes so ammonia and nitrite don't go too high. Goldfish can generally tolerate a lot, but keeping it lower is better.

I would return them. Actually, after keeping them I always get the "vibe"(sorry, had to say that lol) that they belong more in species only tanks. That may just be me however.

I agree with that, maybe have one big one but not all these little dudes.
I do have a new found respect for them though,they are very resilient little guys.

 

I agree with that, maybe have one big one but not all these little dudes.
I do have a new found respect for them though,they are very resilient little guys.

Yeah. Also I can't believe I'm saying this but its probably best to return anyways since they can get big.

Very hardy. Well IMO they are hardy, considering they are kinda inbred too. Mine survived after getting put in a bowl for 5 years. Actually one survived in a bowl for 43 surprisingly.

 

Yeah. Also I can't believe I'm saying this but its probably best to return anyways since they can get big.

Very hardy. Well IMO they are hardy, considering they are kinda inbred too. Mine survived after getting put in a bowl for 5 years. Actually one survived in a bowl for 43 surprisingly.

I was reading that thread yesterday about the gold fish in the bowl for 40 years haha.
And 4 of them in their have already gotten substantially bigger, I have been feeding big portions as well.

 

It’s funny Wrench your approach was the standard many years ago. We bought all our stuff the same day with a few feeder goldfish. Filled up and set up our tank. Dropped the goldfish in and waited a few weeks than brought them back to the pet store for credit (always kept at least one) and got your new fish. So yeah when your done return to the pet store or give away to anyone with a pond. Thing is if you keep them they will grow big. Do you already have the fish you plan on putting in that tank? If so and there grown they may eat the goldfish.

 

I tried to order it and they wont send it to me for some reason...

I'm guessing you mean you tried to order ammonia. Why order? Go to Walmart or a grocery store, and buy your ammonia. Just make sure it's pure (ammonia and water only) with no additives.

 

I'm guessing you mean you tried to order ammonia. Why order? Go to Walmart or a grocery store, and buy your ammonia. Just make sure it's pure (ammonia and water only) with no additives.

Aaaahhjh Amazon hates me apparently and wont let me submit an order for it.
I was not aware that wal Mart or grocery stores sold ammonia,thank Mongo75

 

Aaaahhjh Amazon hates me apparently and wont let me submit an order for it.
I was not aware that wal Mart or grocery stores sold ammonia,thank Mongo75

It's not "Aquarium" ammonia, like Dr Tim's, it's just plain old "cleaning supplies" ammonia. You could get it at any grocery store. You're going to look for something like this... Great Value Clear Ammonia All Purpose Cleaner, 64 Fl. Oz. - Walmart.com

 

It's not "Aquarium" ammonia, like Dr Tim's, it's just plain old "cleaning supplies" ammonia. You could get it at any grocery store. You're going to look for something like this... Great Value Clear Ammonia All Purpose Cleaner, 64 Fl. Oz. - Walmart.com

on it as soon as I get home!