"Sean" wrote in message
...

"Marco Schwarz" wrote in message
...
Hi..

Cyling a tank with a few hardy fish and live plants, no
more than about 5" of fish in a 100 litre (25 USg = about
25" of fish) is usually safe.

Hmm.., what are hardy fish?



Fish that are resilient and can go through the stress of something like
a major cycle, without getting sick or dying?

Sometimes, it's hard to know when Marco is being facetious or serious
;~).

Other than a few fish which are known to be particularly fragile (mostly
under under transport conditions, which is why we notice), the hardiness
of a fish has more to do with its size, how long it's been in the tank,
whether the water parameters are acceptable, and its metabolism (imo).
Only the last point is species dependant, so there is a lot of urban myth
to picking a particular type of fish because it's 'hardy'. They are
mostly all equally 'hardy' if the environment is correct (or wouldn't
their evolution have had a a very short history?).

Returning back to 'acceptable water parameters' fish can be selected (or
avoided) according to the particular abuse you're anticipating. For a
heat wave, I wouldn't have White Cloud minnows, Dojos or Kuhliis, and if
the water was going to get very cold, then Goldfish, Koi and Sunfish come
to mind. My well water gets very hard mid-summer, making Discus, Altums
or Rams quite miserable, but bringing out nice colours in African mbuna
and Monos.

If you want hardy fish, choose them according to your water parameters,
and once they are acclimated, have grown a bit, and if their water
conditions are within their acceptable range, they are *ALL* hardy ).
--
www.NetMax.tk stirring the pot again ;~)




Sean