Need an answer quickly for a quick question

[Mermaid Fish]

I was just wondering when putting water in a tank that you need to do the nitrogen cycle with do you use water that has been consitioned to remove the chemicals?

[Maryrox247]

when adding water to a tank new or old cycled or uncycled big or small you ALWAYS add water conditioner.

[Mermaid Fish]

Thanks. Can you start cycling with anything besides raw shrimp like raw chicken? Shrimp is kinda expensive

[Maryrox247]

NO! Neither!One word: salmonella! I do a fish in cycle. What you need to do is fill the tank up with conditioned water and turn everything on. (the filter, heater, ect.) Next buy some starter fish that are study and produce a good amount of waste. (this becomes ammonia which you actually want to rise during a cycle) I used platys in my sorority tank. Another good thing to add is Cycle. It is a liquid bacteria you add to your water that you can buy from your local fish store.

[Little Marlin]

ALWAYS use water conditioner when changing the water!