Fast Freshwater Tank Cycling

Question
I have a 6 gallon freshwater tank.

Is there any way to get fish in it within a few days?

I have it filled with dechlorinized water right now.

I have read about cycling, most places say it is needed.

I don't have 4-6 weeks to get it ready for fish, but just a few days. Is there a faster way to cycle the tank, and how risky is it to not cycle it before adding fish?

I need some suggestions on how to get fish in it as soon as possible without hurting them.

Thanks!

Answer
Dear Ryan,
Here's the fastest way to cycle an aquarium. But it requires one important thing to work. Another aquarium.
If you have other aquariums that are established or you know somebody who has a healthy established aquarium you can take several deep cups of their gravel and a good amount of dirty filter material (media) and these will contain the beneficial bacterial colonies. Put the dirty filter media in the new tank's filter and sprinkle the gravel over the new. This will not instant cylce an aquarium, you can still get an ammonia reading sometimes after even doing this, but the cycling is completed in perhaps about a week. Another thing, since your aquarium is only six gallons, if there is a way to get a lot of gravel from an established aquarium and use that gravel as the entire substrate for the new aquarium. This should certainly work as providing a whole thriving bacterial colony on the gravel.

Instant cycling is also done by placing an estasblished sponge filter which runs simply for the purpose of making new aquariums safe and operates in conjunction with a stronger filter, from a cycled tank into the brand new--an instant cycled biological filter! A whole Gravel bed taken from an established aquarium should do the same as the whole sponge filter. Make sure their is an food source for the bacteria right away to avoid any problems.

But if unfortunately, you do not have acess to other established aquariums. There are many products on the pet store market today whom claim to completely cycle an aquarium in a matter of days. I tend to not use these as a sole dependant when starting new aquariums so all I can really honestly say is give it a try but if you can, at all costs--test the water for ammonia at least. Immediately make a 50% water chage when ammonia becomes traceable if it does occur. Be sure to always make the replacement water equal in temperature to that of your aquarium and always dechlorinate it.

It's very hard to get around cycling. You cannot get around it without any help from gravel from established tanks, or products which claim to have live bacteria ready to add to the aquarium. Simply type in "Bacteria" in the search on "Petsmart.com" and you will get the product actually called "Cycle" many aquarists recommend it.

The best I can recommend is try it. Please try not to harm any fish during the process. And let me know if you have anymore questions or concerns..I will be happy to help.

Best wishes and Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~